Sixth seed Paradorn Srichaphan powered into the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing with a 6-4, 6-3 win over South Korean Lee Hyung-Taik on Friday.
The hard-hitting Thai will meet Mikhail Youzhny in the last four of the inaugural $500,000 tournament after the Russian crushed eighth seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia 6-4, 6-2.
At least five of the eight seeded players, including top two Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, will now be missing from the semi-finals in Beijing.
Argentine third seed David Nalbandian takes on Finn Jarkko Nieminen while Russian giant Marat Safin faces American Kevin Kim in the bottom half of the draw later on Friday.
Paradorn fell behind an early break to Lee but hit back for 4-4 and seized the initiative after a lucky net cord gave him set point two games later.
The 25-year-old from Bangkok, chasing his second title of 2004, blew three match points in the eighth game of the second set.
But Paradorn clinched a semi-final spot soon afterwards when a Lee backhand sailed long after 75 minutes at Beijing Tennis Centre, venue for the 2008 Olympic tournament.
Youzhny, hero of Russia's Davis Cup triumph in 2002, broke Hrbaty in the first game and kept the pressure on his Slovakian opponent throughout.
Hrbaty's game fell apart in the second set as Youzhny, bidding to win his second career ATP title, raced to a commanding 4-0 lead.
The 22-year-old Russian closed out with his fifth ace after 68 minutes to reach his second semi-final of the year.