Summary Lin Dan beat Kanta Tsuneyama 16-21, 21-17, 21-10 to reach Malaysia Open semi-finals on Friday.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Chinese badminton ace Lin Dan advanced to the Malaysia Open semi-finals Friday after beating Japan s Kanta Tsuneyama in a high-octane match that left his opponent exhausted.
In a gruelling 70-minute match, the 35-year-old five-time world champion floored the much younger Tsuneyama -- 13 years his junior -- winning 16-21, 21-17, 21-10.
The world number 16 attributed his victory to experience, after tying 17-17 in the second game after losing the opening match.
"It was my experience that counted today, coming into a high-pressure situation like this," Lin told reporters after the match.
"He was patient in the first game, and the second game was close, but I managed to gain the upper hand. He is not an attacking player so that worked for me too."
Lin will meet compatriot and second seed Shi Yuqi in the semi-finals, adding that he hoped to continue with "the same tempo".
The other men s singles semi-finals will see China s Chen Long go up against Indonesian youngster Jonatan Christie.
Christie needed just 41 minutes to dispatch Denmark s sixth seed Viktor Axelsen 21-18, 21-19, while Chen was also on song to beat India s K. Srikanth by the same score.
The women s singles saw Taiwan s Tai Tzu Ying breeze into the last four after she dismantled Thai stalwart Ratchanok Intanon 21-19, 21-13.
Tai will go on to face China s Chen Yufei, who beat South Korean Sung Ji-hyun 21-18, 21-14.
The other semi-final pits Akane Yamaguchi against Nozomi Okuhara.
In the men s doubles, Indonesian top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo were beaten by countrymen Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto 23-21, 19-21, 21-18.
