Karlsson, who represented his country at this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, defeated Denmark's Jonathan Groth to reach the final four.

The Swede stormed into a comfortable lead, winning the first three games 11-2, 11-6, 11-5.

Only being one game away from victory, Karlsson allowed Groth to get back into the match as the Dane won the next three games 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 to take the contest into a decider. 

Roared on by the home crowd, it was Karlsson who progressed, however, as he clinched the seventh and decisive game 11-9.

Awaiting him in the semi-finals is Germany's Dimitrij Ovtcharov after he defeated England's Liam Pitchford 14-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 16-14.

Japan's Yuya Oshima, meanwhile, proved too strong for Frenchman Stephane Ouaiche.

The 22-year-old moved one win away from the final following a comfortable 11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 success.

In the final match of today's action, Japan's Kenta Matsudaira came from a game down to defeat Marcos Freitas of Portugal 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10.

In the women’s singles competition Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa was the first player to reach the semi-finals after she defeated Li Qian of Poland in a seven game thriller.

Neither player could maintain control of the contest but it was Ishikawa who prevailed 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-1.

Joining her in the final four is Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei after she came from two games down to beat South Korea’s Suh Hyowon 8-11, 7-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9.

Germany’s Han Ying was in ominous form as she thrashed Japan’s Miyu Kato in straight games.

Han dominated her opponent 11-9, 11-2, 11-9, 11-6 to move one win away from the final.

Standing in her way is Turkey's Hu Melek after she defeated Jeon Jihee of South Korea 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6.

Action in both competitions is due to conclude tomorrow where the semi-finals will begin at 10:00am local time before the gold medal matches take centre stage in the afternoon.