The 31-year-old claimed the scalp of his career 21-19, 22-24, 21-17 in 75 minutes and perhaps end Lee’s elusive search for the world title which has seen him take three silver medals just as he has done in the Olympics.
“I’m really happy,” he said.
“I managed to stay relaxed and played my own game.”
Leverdez had two match points in the second game — 20-21 and 21-22 — and it was only a successful hawk eye challenge on the second match point that saved Lee from a straight games exit.
In the decider, the 34-year-old Malaysian led 15-10 — but the Frenchman wouldn’t give in.
“I knew I was in trouble, but I never gave up,” said Leverdez.
For Lee it was another chance gone.
“I tried my best and he got lucky on a few points,” said Lee, whose fourth win in the All-England Open this year suggested he was still capable of ending his world title drought.
“I’m very disappointed.”
Sindhu, Praneeth advance
India’s PV Sindhu, B Sai Praneeth, Ajay Jayaram and the mixed doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy advanced but the mixed doubles pairing of B. Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa lost in the second round yesterday.
Fourth seed Sindhu, a two-time World Championships bronze medallist, moved past South Korean world No.44 Kim Hyo Min 21-16, 21-14 in 49 minutes.
“It was a good match and I was happy with the way I played. I think after Rio Olympics, I am better prepared for big events than before,” Sindhu said in a release.
Praneeth got the better of Hong Kong’s Wei Nan 21-18, 21-17, while Jayaram crushed Austrian Luka Wraber 21-14, 21-12 in 31 minutes.
“I was finding it difficult initially as he was playing very fast, but slowly adjusted to his pace,” Praneeth said after the match.
“I must admit that I was a little under pressure coming into the match as there is a lot expected from us and everyone follows badminton these days,” he further added.
In the mixed doubles competitions, Sumeeth-Ashwini lost to Chinese 13th seed Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping 17-21, 21-18, 5-21 in 58 minutes.
The pair of Pranaav and Sikki brushed aside Malaysian Yogendran Khrishnan and Indian Prajakta Sawant 21-12, 21-19 in 40 minutes.
Pranaav-Sikki will take on the Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto in the next round.
Sikki also advanced in the doubles competition, partnering Ashwini. The team won over the Indonesian-Malaysian combine of Ririn Amelia and Anna Ching Yik Cheong 21-15, 21-13.
Olympic 2012 bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, seeded 12th, got a bye in her first round and will start her campaign on Wednesday against Swiss Sabrina Jaquet.
