Saina Nehwal on Friday became the second Indian to book a spot in the semi-finals of the 2017 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold. Nehwal beat Japan’s Haruko Suzuki 21-15, 20-22, 21-11 in the quarter-finals to set up a last-four clash with Thailand’s Busanan Ongbumrungpan, the fourth seed. Earlier in the day, B Sai Praneeth had also booked a place in the semis by beating Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-16, 21-17.

Nehwal took a massive 11-3 lead in the first game, before Suzuki won some points back but could not stop the second seeded Indian from taking it 21-15. In the second game, the Japanese launched a spirited fightback and kept up with Nehwal neck-and-neck. The game was tied 20-all before Suzuki snatched it 22-20.

In the decider, Nehwal took an early lead and eventually managed to run away with the game without much fuss, 21-11. Nehwal’s win means that three of the top four seeds in the women’s singles draw have made it to the semis, with only Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, seeded first, still left to play her quarter-final clash.