The Japanese star is seeking a third consecutive title on the BWF World Tour circuit, following triumphs at the Denmark and French Open tournaments.

Her hopes were threatened by Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, who convincingly won the opening game of their quarter-final match 21-8.

Yamaguchi stormed back to win the remaining games 21-12, 21-10 to book her place in the last four of the BWF Super 750 tournament.

She will now face third seed Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Bali International Convention Center.

The world champion produced an impressive performance to overcome Turkey’s Neslihan Yigit 21-13, 21-10.

South Korea’s An Se-young also advanced to the semi-finals, with the fourth seed overcoming Japan’s Sayaka Takanashi 21-15, 21-14.

Thailand’s Phittayaporn Chaiwan completes the semi-final line-up after she backed up her win over compatriot and second seed Rachankok Intanon yesterday.

Chaiwan earned a 21-21, 21-13 win over Yeo Jin Min of Singapore.

Men’s singles top seed Kenta Momota produced his best performance of the competition to secure his semi-final place.

The Japanese world number one recorded a 21-15, 21-5 victory over Denmark’s Rasmus Genke.

Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen will face Momota in the last four, following a narrow 21-19, 12-21, 21-18 win over Hong Kong’s Ng Ka-Long.

Kumar Prannoy stunned Denmark’s Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen yesterday, but was unable to repeat his performance against fellow Indian Srikanth Kidambi.

Kidambi led from the start of their quarter-final match, eventually securing a straight games 21-7, 21-18 win.

He will meet Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, as the third seed was a 21-11, 21-17 winner against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

Top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia will face Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia in the first men’s doubles semi-final.

The second Malaysian pairing of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will play Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.

The women’s doubles will see an all-South Korean semi-final featuring Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong, against top seeds Kim So-yeong and Kong Hee-yong.

Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida will play Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand in the second semi-final.

Mixed doubles top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai will face Ko Sung-hyun and Eom Hye-won of South Korea for a place in the final.

The second semi-final sees Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan, the third seeds, play Tang Chun Man andTse Ying Suet of Hong Kong.