World No 8 Zii Jia took 67 minutes to overcome 7th seed Nishimoto 16-21, 21-12, 21-12 at the Quaycentre in Sydney.

Zii Jia, who has now reached his third semi-finals in four tournaments since the Thailand Open last month, will next face world No 37 Lee Chia Hao of Chinese Taipei. Zii Jia has only won twice in their five encounters.

Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing also advanced to the semi-finals after defeating compatriots Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee 21-15, 23-21.

The fifth seeds are expected to face an uphill task against world No 5 pair and top seeds Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin of China.

Kian Meng-Pei Jing lost all three of their previous matches against the 2023 World Championship bronze medallists, including at last week’s Indonesia Open semi-finals.

It was double joy for Pei Jing, who also reached the women’s doubles semi-finals.

Pei Jing and Lim Chiew Sien beat Polina Buhrova-Yevheniia Kantemyr of Ukraine 21-17, 21-19 to set up a clash against Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam of Hong Kong.

In the men’s doubles, third seeds Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri are the sole Malaysian representatives to reach the semi-finals after two other pairs crashed out.

The 2024 Orleans Masters champions defeated Rizky Hidayat-Frengky Wijaya Putra of Australia 21-16, 18-21, 21-12.

They will next face world No 8 He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu of China, who ousted Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai 21-14, 21-12 in a 27-minute match.

The rising national men’s doubles pair of Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi were stunned by Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray-Lin Yu Chieh, losing 21-14, 21-17 in another quarter-final match.