SINGAPORE - Singapore mixed double pair Terry Hee and Tan Wei Han's run at the OUE Singapore Open ended in the round of 16 after a 21-17, 16-21, 20-22 defeat by China's All England champions Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong, but only after coming within a whisker of serving up a stunning upset.

Hee and Tan had a match point in the third game at 20-19 but lost the final three points to end the Republic's challenge in the competition.

They were the only Singaporean players to reach the second round.

The world No. 16 pair took an early 5-0 lead in the opening set and proceeded to win 21-17.

But the second-ranked Chinese pair came back strongly in the second, displaying the form that saw them win the All England Champions last month to level at one game apiece, before clinching the deciding set.

Hee, who had put up a gallant effort one day earlier in a first-round loss to Lukhi Apri Nugroho and Tedi Supriadi in the men's doubles with partner Loh Kean Hean, was disappointed with the result.

The 21-year-old said: "We were uncertain about our shots towards the last part. We wanted to win, but it made us hesitate a lot. Unfortunately in the last part, they managed (the situation) better than us."

Tan was encouraged by their display.

She said: "We were not expecting ourselves to have such a close fight. We actually succeeded our expectations so we are quite satisfied with our performance."