German Open 2022: Lee Zii Jia reaches last four in straight games

Lee Zii Jia's march at badminton's 2022 German Open continues after the Malaysian won his quarter-final clash in Mülheim on Friday (11 March).

Facing China's Zhao Junpeng, the fifth seed needed just 40 minutes to complete a straight-games 21–12, 21–18 victory.

It's the first time this tournament the Malaysian world number seven has won in straight games, after facing nervous third-game deciders in his first and second round ties.

Lee dominated the opening game against Zhao, never really letting his opponent get a foothold and constantly maintaining a comfortable margin.

But the second game was a lot tenser, with the Chinese shuttler ahead for most of the game until Lee rallied back at 16–16 to clinch victory.

His rival in the semis will be Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

Olympic champ Axelsen through in opposite half

On the other side of the men's singles draw, Denmark's Olympic champion and world number one Viktor Axelsen has set up a semi-final meeting against India's Lakshya Sen.

Axelsen took just 35 minutes to dispatch Sen's compatriot Kidambi Srikanth 21–10, 23–21.

The first game was no real contest as the top seed pulled away early with a run of eight straight points, leading 17–5 at one stage.

Kidambi was a lot more competitive in the second game as the players traded points, but was eventually unable to hold off Axelsen.