Viktor Axelsen had to dig deep before progressing today ©Getty Images

Reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen was forced to dig deep before reaching the semi-finals at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Malaysia Masters in Bukit Jalil today.

The Dane lost the second set but recovered to triumph 21-15, 19-21, 21-12 against Indonesian opponent Jonatan Christie at the Axiata Arena today.

He is now due to face home shuttler in Daren Liew tomorrow for a place in the final of this HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 event.

Liew, the only surviving Malaysian player in the draw, produced another impressive performance to defeat Thailand's Suppanyu Avihingsanon, 21-18, 21-17.

He defeated Axelsen in the final of the 2012 French Open in Paris.

Japan's Kenta Nishimoto beat Hong Kong's seventh seed Angus Ka Long Ng 18-21, 21-19, 21-16 elsewhere today.

He will now play another Dane in Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus, a 21-19, 21-16 winner over Indonesia's Anthony Ginting in the quarter-finals. 

Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying also reached the semi-finals in the women's singles draw today ©Getty Images
Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying also reached the semi-finals in the women's singles draw today ©Getty Images

The top seeds continued to impress in the women's singles draw.

Top ranked Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei beat China's eighth seed Chen Yufei, 21-18, 21-15 and will next face Carolina Marin of Spain.

Marin, the reigning Olympic champion, beat Lee Ying-ying of Malaysia 21-17, 21-16.

Fifth-seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand beat another home player, Goh Jun Wei, 21-23, 21-6, 21-10 and is now scheduled to face Japan's second seed Akane Yamaguchi.

She beat He Bingjiao of China 21-15, 21-14.