Nehwal, who has slipped to eighth in the world rankings in recent months, was hoping to regain form and earn a surprise victory over Marin in the BWF Superseries Premier event.

She was able to live with her Spanish rival in the first game of their quarter-final clash but Marin eventually held her nerve to take the opener 24-22.

Marin then took full control of the contest in the second to quickly secure a 24-22, 21-11 win against the three-time winner.

The 22-year-old will now face China’s Wang Yihan, who defeated South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun 21-18, 13-21, 22-20 in her quarter-final tie.

An all-Chinese match between Sun Yu and Wang Shixian saw the latter emerge as the victor as she fought back from a game down to earn a comeback success.

Sun had secured the opener 21-18, but then lost the remaining games 19-21, 16-21 to crash out.

Following her win, Wang will face Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who ousted fifth seeded Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-18, 13-21, 21-8.

Having claimed a stunning win over double Olympic champion Lin Dan of China yesterday, home favourite Jonatan Christie bowed out of the tournament after he was beaten by Denmark’s Jan Ø. Jørgensen.

The 18-year-old had triumphed 21-14 in the opening game, but could not prevent Jørgensen from hitting back to win the final two games 21-19, 21-14 to seal a semi-final spot.

Jorgensen, who was runner-up in the tournament last year, will take on China’s Tian Houwei after the sixth seed beat Hong Kong’s Hu Yun 14-21, 21-15, 21-18.

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, the highest ranked seed in the men’s draw following the decision of China's world champion Chen Long to withdraw on Wednesday (June 1), also moved into the semi-finals.

He led China’s Wang Zhengming 21-16, 9-2, prior to his opponent retiring from the contest due to injury.

Lee will face Indonesia’s Ihsan Maul Mustofa, who defeated England’s Rajiv Ouseph 17-21, 21-12, 21-12.