India's Sania Mirza upset top seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia in three sets to reach the last four of the Japan Open.
The world number 37 won 5-7 6-2 6-4 to set up a semi-final against France's Tatiana Golovin, who beat Japan's Ai Sugiyama 3-6 6-2 6-2.
Second seed Nicole Vaidisova will face Maria Kirilenko in the second semi.
"I think I played one of my best matches," said Mirza. "She's the number one seed, and I'm happy that I was able to play my game."
Zvonareva said: "I started out OK. I think I played well in the first set, but then I lost my concentration and couldn't get my game back.
"She's a good player. For me, it was important to concentrate on my game and do what I needed to do, but I couldn't play good tennis throughout the whole match."
Vaidisova, of the Czech Republic, defeated Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson 2-6 6-3 6-2, while fourth seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia beat American Jill Craybas 6-2 4-6 6-2.
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