The dream run of India’s budding badminton star Unnati Hooda at the China Open Super 1000 tournament ended after she lost to World Number 4 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in straight games in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The 17-year-old, who scripted her biggest career win against her idol and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, lost 16-21, 12-21 in a match that lasted 33 minutes. With Hooda’s exit, India’s singles campaign in the tournament has come to an end.

In the opening game, Hooda gave some competition to Yamaguchi early on, but failed to sustain the momentum with the Japanese star scoring five consecutive points at one stage to take the game 21-16. Hooda’s best run was when she scored three points in a row.

The second game followed a similar script. Despite a brief fightback, where she won four straight points, Hooda fell behind as Yamaguchi won six consecutive points and wrapped up the second game 21-12. Overall, Yamaguchi won 42 of the 70 points played across both games.

Hooda had stunned former world champion Sindhu 21-16, 19-21, 21-13 in the pre-quarterfinals on Thursday.

India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will play later in the day against Malaysia’s Yew Sin Ong and Ee Yi Teo in the quarterfinals.