Home favourites Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen reached the mixed doubles semi-finals of the Yonex Denmark Open today ©Getty Images

Home favourites Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen reached the mixed doubles semi-finals of the Yonex Denmark Open today after upsetting top seeds Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na of South Korea at the Arena Fyn in Odense.

Having won the first game 21-13, Fischer Nielsen and Pedersen converted their first match point in the second to take it 21-18 in this Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super Series event.  

"We were able to play the way we wanted to and on a high level," said Fischer Nielsen.

"I don’t think the Koreans were ready for the way played.

"They didn’t expect that we could play like this.

"I am pleased that we were able to close it off in straight sets."

Fourth seeds Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock will provide the opposition for Fischer Nielsen and Pedersen in the penultimate round after the English duo defeated China's Li Junhui and Bao Yixin 21-18, 21-12.  

Another major shock came in the men's singles competition, which saw world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia lose in three games against unseeded Frenchman Brice Leverdez.

The three-time Olympic silver medallist was beaten 17-21, 22-20, 19-21 by Leverdez, who goes onto face Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk - a 21-17, 14-21, 21-15 winner over Denmark's Anders Antonsen - in the last four.

Japan's Nozomi Okuhara crashed out of the women's singles competition ©Getty Images
Japan's Nozomi Okuhara crashed out of the women's singles competition ©Getty Images

There was no such trouble for the top seeds in the women’s doubles as Japan’s Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo comfortably overcame compatriots Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao 24-22, 21-15.

Awaiting them in the semi-finals are Thailand’s Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Puttita Supajirakul, who defeated fourth seeds Luo Ying and Luo Yu of China 21-16, 21-18.

In the women’s singles, third seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan suffered a shock exit after falling to a 13-21, 14-21 loss against fellow countrywoman Akane Yamaguchi. 

Next up for Yamaguchi is top seed Carolina Marin of Spain, who was made to work hard for her victory against China's Sun Yu before eventually prevailing 21-19, 16-21, 27-25. 

Home hopes Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen remain on course for success in the men's doubles having eliminated Russia's Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov 21-14, 21-5.

Standing between the second seeds and the final are Malaysia's V Shem Goh and  Wee Kiong Tan, who triumphed 21-18, 25-23 at the expense of China's Li and Liu Yuchen.