Chinese superstar Lin Dan made his first World Superseries final in over two years at the Australian Badminton Open in Sydney on Saturday.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion, who had to qualify for the Sydney event, downed defending champion and younger compatriot Tian Houwei, 21-19, 23-21 to reach Sunday’s final.
Lin, 30, considered the greatest badminton player of all time, had his ranking drop to 104 after a seven-month sabbatical from the sport.
He will face Simon Santoso in the final after Santoso won an all-Indonesian semi-final against Tommy Sugiarto 21-16, 21-13.
Lin holds a 10-1 record over Santoso, who was untroubled against Sugiarto.
Lin will be contesting World Superseries final for the first time since winning the All England in 2012.
India’s Saina Nehwal made her first World Superseries final in 20 months with a three game win over Chinese top seed Wang Shixian in the women’s singles.
Nehwal, whose last appearance in a World Superseries final was at the French Open in 2012, rediscovered some of her best form in defeating long-time rival Wang 21-19, 16-21, 21-15.
Nehwal now faces Spaniard Carolina Marin, who made her first World Superseries final by beating Japan’s Yui Hashimoto 21-17, 21-16.