Jun Mizutani from Japan stunned World Cup winner Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus in the quarterfinals after seven bitter matches on Saturday, realizing his first apperance in World Cup's semifinals.
Mizutani started the match winning the first set 12-9, but lost the following two sets 8-11 and 6-11, as Samsonov took a more positive and purposeful approach.
During the fourth and fifth sets, the Japanese became more stronger in his attacks to turn around the table winning 11-5 and 11-8 for a 3-2 lead. In the fifth set, he once trailed behind 5-10, but won straight six points to seal the set 11-81.
After Samsonov won the sixth set 11-7, the game was pushed to the decisive seventh set which Mizutani eventually won 11-6.
The Japanese will meet the winner in the semifinal between Chinese Zhang Jike and German Dimitrij Ovtcharov.