Kim Yu-na finished second in the short program of the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix Final Friday in Tokyo, Japan.
The 19-year-old South Korean scored 65.64 points after cutting her triple flip into a single to see local star Miki Ando lead the pack with 66.20. Russian Alena Leonova came in third at 61.60.
The score on the night was 10.64 short of her own record of 76.28 set at the fifth Grand Prix event in Lake Placid, N.Y. last month.
Kim, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, will compete in the free skating at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
In the men's event, Japan's Daisuke Takahashi edged Evan Lysacek of the United States by a tenth of a point ― 89.95 to 89.85 points.
Takahashi was a runner-up in 2006 and 2007.
Nobunari Oda of Japan placed third with 87.65.