For the second successive year, Anders Antonsen qualified for the final of the major badminton tournament Indonesia Open.
Despite a slow start, the 28-year-old from Aarhus defeated World No 2, Shi Yuqi, in the semi-finals in Jakarta. Antonsen won in three sets with a scoreline of 9-21, 21-18 and 21-19.
Shi Yuqi has otherwise beaten Antonsen in three major finals, including last year's edition of the Indonesia Open. But on Saturday Antonsen finally ended his poor run of results against the Chinese World No 2.
Antonsen will now face Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen in Sunday's final. Chou Tien-chen and Antonsen also faced each other in the final in 2019, with the Taiwanese winning in three sets.
There was no indication that Antonsen would book a ticket for the third Indonesia Open final of his career in a one-sided first set.
Antonsen came under great pressure on the difficult downwind side. The Chinese quickly took the initiative and moved comfortably ahead.
When Antonsen sensed which way the wind was blowing, he almost gave up the set and started focusing on the second set instead allowing Shi Yuqi to win the set in dominant fashion.
The Dane faired much better in the second set, where he was helped by the wind and gained control over the long gruelling duels.
After trailing 1-4, Antonsen seized control of the set, and halfway through the set he led 11-7.
However, Shi Yuqi hung on all the time in a match that was played at an amazing pace. He averted a set point at 17-20, but hit the next ball into the net and thus involuntarily sent the match into a decisive set.
Antonsen was then back on the downwind side for the decisive set, but had much better control than in the first set. He played aggressively and was ahead 11-6 at the change of sides.
The Dane seemed to be heading for a certain win, when he had six match points at 20-14, but suddenly got nervous.
He missed five successive match points before securing the victory at the sixth attempt and raising his arms in relief.
The final will be his third in the Super 1000 tournament in Jakarta.