Chinese wildcard Yi Jingqian lost a third-round match at the Australian Open but won the confidence to rank higher in the world.

Yi's dream run at the prestigious tournament was brought to an end by American Jennifer Capriati, bowing out 6-4, 6-4 at Melbourne Park on Friday.

The 25-year-old, who beat Capriati in the 1996 French Open, didnot conceal her disappointment.

"I feel quite sorry. I hate myself for losing the deserved points,"said Yi.

"My ground strokes were not bad at all, but my service failed to be dangerous for the windy conditions, and I lost my touch at the crucial stages of the match." she added.

Yi did not dwell on the loss, stressing that she had learned a lot from the loss and the star-studded Australian Open.

"I learned a lot from the match against Capriati. She set a good example in her ability to win key points and convert chances to scoring," Yi said.

"Meanwhile I had enhanced my confidence by playing world tennis elite. I am upbeat to win higher ranking and will be more self-confident when I meet excellent players.

"Comparatively speaking, my serve is weaker and slower, and I need to be better in handling key points. But in other respects I am as good as them," said Yi, who currently rate 141st in the world.

Yi has reached her career high by making the third round of the tournament where she fell at the first hurdle in the previous three attempts.

After the Aussie Open, she will go to the United States for three international tournaments in as many weeks.

"My aim this year is just to win ranking points as possible as I could to make preparation for the Olympic Games," Yi said.

Her commitment to tennis has won thumbs-up from her personal coach Jeff King.

"I believe Yi is somebody who possess natural ability and strong determination," said the American who began to coach Yi in the summer of 1999 at the invitation of the Chinese Tennis Association.

"I think the Chinese tennis players possess a great work ethic and fierce determination. Those attributes coupled with the flexibility to play on all court surfaces, as well as a wide array of shot selection, will further more player in the future," King added.