Ratchanok Intanon's run in Kuala Lumpur came to a disappointing end after the Thai fourth seed lost in the women's singles semi-finals of the US$700,000 Malaysia Open on Saturday.
The Thai star crashed out to eighth seed He Bingjiao 17-21, 17-21 in 49 minutes at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. Fourth seed Ratchanok was He's second upset victim in as many days after the Chinese star knocked out No.2 seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the quarter-finals on Friday.
He will battle top seed and world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying for the title today.
Taiwan's Tai overcame third seed PV Sindhu of India 21-15, 19-21, 21-11 in the other semi-final on Saturday.
Ratchanok will now head to Jakarta for the $1.25 million BWF World Tour Super 1000 Indonesia Open. The Thai ace, who is also seeded fourth next week, will play Indonesia hope Fitrani Fitrani in the first round.
The men's singles title will be a battle between Malaysian ace Lee Chong Wei and Japan's Kento Momota.
Lee defeated Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 21-18, 21-15 while Momoto beat fourth seed Kidambi Srikanth of India 21-13, 21-13.
Top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan defeated Kim Hye-Rin and Kong Hee-Yong of South Korea 21-10, 21-15 in the women's doubles semi-finals on Saturday.
The Chinese pair play fifth seeds Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in the title decider after the Japanese duo cruised past Della Destiara Haris and Rizki Amelia Pradipta of Indonesia 21-9, 21-9.
In the mixed doubles semis, fourth seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China rallied to beat Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock of England. They will play compatriot Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping in the final after the No.2 seeds beat Japan's Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino 21-15, 21-13.
