Dane Tine Rasmussen saved three match points before rallying to beat world champion Lu Lan 16-21 23-21 21-11 in a thrilling women's singles quarter-final at the All England championships on Friday.
Rasmussen, champion in 2008 when she beat China's Lu in the final, trailed 20-18 in the second game and looked to be heading out.
The tall Dane held her nerve though, saved both match points and another at 21-20 to level and then take the set.
The demoralised Chinese, taken to three games by unheralded Scot Susan Eglestaff on Thursday, went 7-1 down in the decider and despite a mini-fightback proved unable to stem the flow.
Rasmussen, who has saved match points on other occasions in big games at the All Englands, told reporters: "Even when I am not at my best I think I can turn it round. I have it in me.
"I was delighted to turn this one round and then produce my game in the third when I played with a lot more confidence."
In Saturday's semi-finals Rasmussen, runner-up in 2009 to China''s Wang Yihan, meets Saina Nehwal of India who beat unseeded German Juliane Schenk 21-8 21-14.
Nehwal forecast of her clash with the Dane: "It's going to be a long match. She's a good attacker with the same game as mine."
In later action, top seed Wang had to battle hard to see off Hong Kong's Zhou Mi 21-9 11-21 21-17.
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