The Indian star lost out 11-21, 21-13, 21-9 to Tai, who faces South Korea's Sung Ji Hyun, a 21-13, 21-13 victor against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, in the final.

Tai struggled to get to grips with her opponent in the early stages of the match but after falling 4-0 behind in the second game, she began to find her feet.

With a variety of delayed flicks, holding shots, tight net shots, drives and drops, she started to create large spaces that Nehwal could not contain.

At one point, she even jump-smashed a backhand when caught off-position after dragging Nehwal all around the court.

A deft backhand drive played with her back to the net was just as sensational as the shuttle travelled through an acute angle past a flummoxed Nehwal and landed on the line.

"I could not control the shuttle in the beginning as the wind was behind me and my clears were landing out," said Tai.

"I started to find my rhythm in the second.

"I would regard my form today as normal.

"Maybe I can give myself eight out of ten."

Tai Tzu Ying's shot variety left opponent Saina Nehwal with no answers ©Getty Images





Earlier, the unflappable Sung snuffed out the challenge of 17-year-old Yamaguchi with her speed, aggression and height working to her advantage. 

"I've never been to the semi-finals or final in this event so my goal was to reach the semi-finals and now I'm really happy to be in the final," said Sung.

Meanwhile in the men's singles, China's Chen Long overcame a first-game fright against the ever-improving Kidambi Srikanth of India to earn his place in the final.

Battling for a shot at the $80,000 (£51,000/€65,000) winner's cheque, the Chinese titan was slow to start and found himself perilously positioned at 16-10 down in the opening game.

However, as has so often happened, the gritty and wily champion fought doggedly and found his range just in time to prevail 21-18 21-9.

Claiming 11 of the last 13 points in the first game, Long punched the air as he switched ends, knowing a few more of the rash errors which plagued him early on could have been costly.

"I was slow to get into the match and Srikanth was showing skills that I'm not familiar with, so it took me a while to figure out how to play him," said the 25-year-old, who is aiming to return to the top of the Finals podium which he last graced in 2012.

"I will have to get more fired up from early for the finals.

"There are a lot of Chinese fans here and I want to do my best for them."

Long's opponent in the final is Denmark's Hans Kristian Vittinghus, who overcame compatriot Jan Ø Jørgensen 21-11, 21-17.

China's Chen Long was given a scare by Kidambi Srikanth but came through to win 21-18, 21-9 ©Getty Images







In the women's doubles, Japan's Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi won a marathon 98-minute match against China's Luo Ying and Luo Yu 21-14, 13-21, 21-14. 

The match featured lengthy rallies, one of which consisted of 148 shots, before Matsutomo and Takahashi edged to victory.

"We just had to keep our concentration as it was a long match," said Takahashi.

"After losing the first game we changed our basic style.

"By the third game we were quite relaxed and that helped us in the tense situations."

China's Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei beat South Korea's Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na 21-9, 21-9 in the other semi-final.

China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei booked their place in the mixed doubles final
©Getty Images






In the men's doubles, South Korea's Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong, kept their country's hopes of success on track with a 21-15 21-16  triumph over Denmark's Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen.

The Danes tried to maintain pace with their opponents but were no match for the Koreans who have been almost unstoppable this season.

"We're very happy to be in the final," said Yoo.

"We've travelled a long way from Korea and it's our last match of the season so we want to win this title."

China's Chai Biao and Hong Wei, 18-21, 21-15, 21-12 winners against Japan's Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa, stand between the Koreans and the title.

In the mixed doubles, China's pairing of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei were too strong for England's husband and wife duo Chris and Gabby Adcock as they eased to a 21-9, 21-12 win. 

Their opponents in the final are compatriots Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin, who beat Denmark's Christinna Pedersen and Joachim Fischer Nielsen 21-13, 21-12.

The final of each event is scheduled to take place tomorrow.