Sania Mirza bowed out of the Guangzhou International women's singles after losing to China's Zhang Shuai in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The Indian ace lost 4-6, 6-1, 4-6 after an hour and 52 minutes.
Joining the Chinese, ranked No 77, in the semi-finals were Romania's Edina Gallovits, who rallied to beat Han Xinyun of China 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva, who had it easy over countrywoman Ksenia Pervak 6-3, 6-1 and top seed Jarmila Groth of Australia, who trounced Italy's Maria Elena Camerin 6-0, 6-2.
Sania had upset third seed Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan to make the quarter-finals.
The Indian ace, who has dropped out of the top-100 after a string of poor results, though is still in the fray in the doubles.
She and Edina Gallovits of Romania got the better of the Australian combination of Sally Pears and Jermila Groth 6-4, 6-3 to enter the last eight stage.
They take on the fourth seeded pair of Briton Anna Smith and China's Zi Yan next.