WASHINGTON - Kuai Man paired up with Lin Shidong to win the mixed doubles event after advancing into the women's doubles final with Wang Yidi at the WTT US Smash in Las Vegas on Friday.
Kuai and Wang will take on Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu in Saturday's all-Chinese title clash. Sun and Wang, the top two-ranked women in the world, had suffered earlier singles exits in a giant-killing spree.
Top seeds Lin and Kuai faced a stiff challenge from second-seeded Lim Jonghoon and Shin Yubin of South Korea in both the first two sets, winning the match 13-11, 16-14, 11-6 over 32 minutes.
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The bronze medals are shared by Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem of Hong Kong, China, and Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei.
In the women's doubles semifinals, Wang and Kuai came from behind to beat Cheng I-Ching and Li Yu-Jhun of Chinese Taipei 3-2, while Sun and Wang swept Kim Nayeong and Ryu Hanna of South Korea in straight sets.
France's Lebrun brothers Alexis and Felix, who shut out China's Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun 3-0 in the semifinals, will vie for the men's doubles gold against An Jaehyun and Lin Jonghoon of South Korea.
World No. 1 Lin disposed of Japan's Yuta Tanaka 4-1, while world No. 2 Wang Chuqin overcame Darko Jorgic of Slovenia 4-2 in the men's singles quarterfinals.
"I want to praise myself for being focused throughout the game," said Lin.
Saturday's semifinals will pit Lin against Japan's world No. 3 Tomokazu Harimoto, while Wang takes on No. 5 Felix Lebrun.
China's Chen Yi, who had shut out world champion Sun Yingsha, saved herself from the edge of elimination, beating Japan's Hina Hayata 4-3 (6-11, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-2, 11-9) in the women's quarterfinals.
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"Hayata gave me a lot of pressure with her forehand attacks," said Chen. "I calmed down later and tried to force her into long rallies."
Elsewhere, Zhu Yuling of Macao, China, who had upset former China national teammate and world No. 2 Wang Manyu, cruised into the last four with a 4-1 victory over Shin Yubin.
"The score didn't tell how close we were," said Zhu. "Shin is young and aggressive. This is more than a clash of techniques. It's more of a game of wits."
