Ace Indian woman shuttler Saina Nehwal on Friday struggled her way into the semi-finals of the Yonex Chinese Taipei Open defeating Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand.
The second seeded Indian beat less-fancied Buranaprasertsuk, ranked 42nd in the world, 21-19, 18-21, 21-16 to set up a last four clash against Indonesia's Pia Zebadiah Bernadet.
Unseeded Bernadet stunned Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia, seeded third in the event 21-18, 22-20 in another quarter-final match.
Nehwal had earlier beaten Hong Kong's Kwan Yi Mong 21-8, 21-12 to move into the last eight stage.