KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 12 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi stayed on course for the German Open title bid after advancing to the semi-finals of the Super 300 event in Mulheim on Friday.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi were in their element as they defeated Taiwan's Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han 21-19, 21-10 to secure their fifth consecutive win against the world No. 27.
This sets up a last-four clash with in-form He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu of China, who advanced after a thrilling 15-21, 22-20, 21-15 victory over Germany's Marvin Seidel-Mark Lamsfuss, breaking the hearts of the home fans.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi have never played against Ji Ting and Xiang Yu before, but they are aware that the Chinese duo will be a tough challenge, having built an eight-match unbeaten run, including five wins en route to securing the Thailand Masters earlier last month.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi are desperate to clinch the title this week to make up ground in the Race to Paris rankings, where they currently stand at No. 13.
With just eight weeks left, they are making a last-ditch attempt to crack the top eight for qualification.
However, there was no joy from the mixed doubles competition as seasoned campaigners Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Soon Huat-Shevon, the 2018 winners, put up a gallant fight before succumbing 21-19, 28-26 to Indonesia's Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati, while Kian Meng-Pei Jing gave a good account of themselves in their 13-21, 21-13, 21-11 defeat to Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet.