Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai failed to book their berth in the mixed doubles final of the US$1 million BWF China Open after losing to Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping yesterday.
The Thai duo were beaten 16-21, 10-21 by the Chinese second seeds, who advanced to the title match against top-seeded compatriots Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou.
World champions Zheng and Huang had little trouble against Seo Seung-Jae and Chae Yu-Jung of South Korea, winning their semi-final 21-14, 21-15.
Meanwhile defending champion Carolina Marin set up a highly-anticipated women's singles final against Tai Tzu Ying.
Marin overcame Japan's Sayaka Takahashi 20-22, 21-13, 21-18 in the semi-finals.
"I feel really excited at the moment," said a beaming Marin, who is chasing her first title since last year's China Open.
"[After I won] I fell down and was crying a bit. You know when you have a long injury and you are doing your rehabilitation you have that feeling to never give up and keep going and keep pushing."
Tai looked out of sorts in the opening game but rebounded in the next two to edge home favourite Chen Yufei 6-21, 21-13, 22-20 and reached her first final since the Singapore Open in April.
It will be the 12th meeting between Tai and Marin, and their first since the Hong Kong Open final almost a year ago. Tai leads 7-4 in their head-to-head record.
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting will also look to retain the men's singles crown when he takes on Kento Momota in the decider today.
Ginting of Indonesia edged Anders Antonsen of Denmark 18-21, 21-5, 21-14 while Japan's Momota defeated China's Chen Long 19-21, 21-18, 21-16.