Nick Kyrgios has cruised through to the semi-finals of the China Open with a 6-0 3-0 victory over injured Belgian Steve Darcis.
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The Australian eighth-seed blasted 12 aces and lost just one first-service point in 30 minutes of work before his opponent retired with a neck strain.
Kyrgios faces a much tougher test in the final four against rising star and second seed Alexander Zverev.
The German beat Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-3 to book his final-four showdown with Kyrgios.
Zverev won his most recent meeting with Kyrgios at the Rogers Cup but the unpredictable Aussie holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage.
“It's unpredictable, obviously he's a great player,” Zverev said of Kyrgios.
“He's a big server. He's someone that I know very well outside the court, as well.
“We've played a few times this year, all on hard courts, all on the US hard courts.
“In Miami he beat me, Indian Wells. In Montreal I was able to beat him.
“Hopefully it's going to be another entertaining match and I think we're both playing great tennis.”
Rafael Nadal will face Grigor Dimitrov in the other semi-final.
Nadal defeated American John Isner 6-4 7-6 (7-0) while Dimitrov progressed with a 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-2 win over Roberto Bautista Agut.