KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 9 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei finally reached their first semi-finals of the year, but the former swiftly declared there's no cause for celebration just yet.
On Friday, Tang Jie-Ee Wei cleared their Thailand Masters quarter-final hurdle by defeating Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek of the Netherlands 21-12, 25-23 at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok.
This marked the first time Tang Jie-Ee Wei made it to the last four since the Hong Kong Open in November last year.
"We're happy to come this far, but the job is not done yet," Tang Jie told SPOTV.
They will be out to go a step further when they take on the up-and-coming Japanese duo Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito, a pair they have not been able to overcome in their recent two meetings.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei last lost to them in the last 16 of the Malaysia Open last month.
Midorikawa-Saito are in a buoyant mood after finishing runners-up at the Indonesia Masters last week.
The world No. 11, coached by Malaysia's Jeremy Gan, continued to perform solidly by beating Thailand's Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat 21-16, 21-16. They have not dropped a single game thus far.
The other semi-final battle pits home favourites Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai against Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati.