BUKIT JALIL: Japan's world No. 5 Kenichi Tago gave Lee Chong Wei a massive favour after turning on the style to stun world No. 2 Chen Long in the quarter-finals of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Chen Long who won the Korean Open last week by beating Chong Wei, was suffering from fever and was clearly not in his best condition as Tago won 21-18, 9-21, 21-10 on Saturday.
The Japanese ace will go on to meet Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto in the semi-finals. Tommy was in smashing form as he brushed aside India's K. Srikanth 21-10, 21-15.
The 31-year-old Chong Wei stayed well on course for his 10th Malaysian Open title after crushing China Du Pengyu 21-9, 21-15 in just 34 minutes,
With Chen Long also out of the way, the road seems all clear now for the 31-year-old. He will face Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen in the semi-finals.
In the men's doubles, Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah continued their brilliant run of form as they swept aside England's Chris Langridge-Peter Mills 21-16, 21-14.
The pair who equalled last year's feat of making the semi-finals, will face Angga Pratama-Rian Agung Saputra for a place in the final. The Indonesians were spot on as they dismantled fifth seeds Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong 22-20, 21-16.
Further seeded casualties saw women's singles fourth seed Wang Yihan fall 17-21, 17-21 to compatriot Yao Xue.
In other results, women's doubles defending champions Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark suffered a scare by new Chinese combination Ma Jin-Tang Yuanting before pulling through 17-21, 21-19, 21-6.
