The reigning Asian champion is still recovering from flu, but dug deep to claim a 10-21, 22-20, 21-16 win at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

"She was playing very well today," Tai said of Pusarla, who failed to convert a match point in the second game.

"All I could do was keep working hard.

"She had some unlucky misses in the second game.

"I wasn’t 100 per cent; my throat still feels itchy and I have a runny nose, but it’s okay."

Next up for Tai is a meeting tomorrow with third-seeded Japanese Akane Yamaguchi, who powered to a 21-15, 21-14 victory over China’s Chen Yufei.

If she comes through that tie, she will face either China’s Sun Yu or Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the final on Sunday (June 25). 

Sixth seed Sun beat India’s Saina Nehwal 21-17, 10-21, 21-17 in the quarter-finals, while Okuhara defeated fellow countrywoman Sayaka Takahashi 21-12, 23-21.

In the men’s singles, India’s Srikanth Kidambi beat compatriot Sai Praneeth Bhamidipati 25-23, 21-17 to reach the penultimate round.

"The first game was very close - I lost four game points," said Kidambi, whose win was only his second in seven encounters against Sai Praneeth.

"That’s been the pattern every time I’ve lost to top players; I’ve missed my opportunities.

"I have to avoid that.

"We know each other’s game pretty well.

"You just have to be patient."

Awaiting Kidambi in the semi-finals is China’s Shi Yuqi, the fourth seed who beat Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-17, 21-12 today.

The other last-four match pits China’s Chen Long against South Korea’s Lee Hyun II.

Chen defeated fellow countryman Lin Dan 21-16, 12-21, 23-21, while Lee overcame eighth seed Tian Houwei of China 17-21, 21-15, 21-18.

The Australian Open is a BWF World Superseries event.