Kevin Cordon has made the last four in Los Angeles ©Getty Images

Double Pan American Games champion Kevin Cordon marched into the semi-finals of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) US Open but European Games gold medallist Pablo Abian was dumped out on quarter-finals day in Los Angeles.

Guatemala's Cordon, who won Pan American Games gold in Toronto last year to defend the title he claimed in Guadalajara in 2011, defeated Japan's Kazumasa Sakai 21-18, 21-14 to reach the last four of the tournament at Los Angeles Badminton Club. 

Abian, winner of the European Games title for Spain in Baku last year, went out in three games to another Japanese, as Kanta Tsuneyama triumphed 21-23, 21-16, 21-15.

Cordon will meet South Korea's Lee Hyun-il in the last four in the 2024 Olympic bid city.

European Games champion Pablo Abian was beaten in the Californian city ©Getty Images
European Games champion Pablo Abian was beaten in the Californian city ©Getty Images

He came through 21-13, 21-17 against Israel's Misha Zilberman while Ajay Jayaram won an all Indian clash against Anand Pawar, 21-11, 21-11, to set up a meeting with Tsuneyama.

In the women's tournament at the Grand Prix Gold level event, Canada's Commonwealth Games champion Michelle Li continued her quest for the title as she saw off Zhang Beiwen of Malaysia 21-14, 21-10 in the last eight.

The second seed will now face a semi-final against Saena Kawakami of Japan, a 19-21, 21-13, 21-12 winner over France's Delphine Lansac.

Japan's Ayumi Mine defeated team-mate Yui Hashimoto 21-15, 21-14 to set-up a tie with Bulgaria's Linda Zechiri, a 22-20, 21-12 victor over Ireland's Chloe Magee.