Japan dropped both of the doubles matches and allowed the Netherlands to come from behind for a 3-2 victory, failing to reach the semifinals of the Uber Cup women's team badminton championship on Wednesday.
The women's defeat came hours after the Japanese men crashed out of the Thomas Cup tournament with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of 13-time winner Indonesia at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
In the Uber Cup quarterfinals, Kaori Mori put Japan ahead with a 21-15, 20-22, 21-17 win over Athens Olympic silver medalist Mia Audina Tjiptawan before Judith Meulendijks downed Eriko Hirose 21-14, 17-21, 21-15 to pull the Netherlands level at 1-1.
Kanako Yonekura reclaimed the lead for Japan after a 23-21, 13-21, 21-14 defeat of Karina de Wit but the host failed to carry the momentum into the doubles matches.
Audina Tjiptawan teamed up with Meulendijks to rout Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota 21-11, 21-16 before De Wit and Ginny Severien battled back from one set down to defeat Tomomi Matsuda and Aki Akao 13-21, 21-14, 21-15 and put the Netherlands in the semifinals.
In the Thomas Cup, Japan got off to a bright start when Shoji Sato upset reigning Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat 20-22, 21-16, 24-22 in a thrilling singles match that lasted one hour, nine minutes in front of a sellout crowd of about 10,000.
But Japan's battle ended there as the host lost the following three matches -- all in straight sets -- and was knocked out at the quarterfinal stage.
Indonesia drew even after Luluk Hadiyanto and Yulianto Alven beat Keita Masuda and Tadashi Otsuka 21-13, 21-16 and went ahead 2-1 with Soni Dwi Kuncoro's 22-20, 21-7 win over Sho Sasaki.
Markis Kidho and Hendra Setiawan then sealed victory for the Indonesians by defeating Shintaro Ikeda and Shuichi Sakamoto 21-15, 21-18.