Kei Solves Lorenzi, Moves Into Basel QFs

Kei Nishikori overcame a spirited effort from Italian Paolo Lorenzi to advance to the Swiss Indoors Basel quarter-finals on Wednesday 7-6(3), 6-2. Nishikori spilled 18 unforced errors in the first set as the top Italian retrieved nearly everything back to him.

But the World No. 5 cleaned up his play in the second set, reducing his unforced error tally to six to prevail in one hour and 38 minutes. The 26 year old is going for his second title of the season, having won his lone title indoors at the Memphis Open in February.

Argentine Federico Delbonis joined Nishikori in the quarter-finals by outlasting Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3. Argentine Guido Pella moved into the second round after Frenchman Richard Gasquet retired down 6-2, 2-1 36 minutes into the match. Gasquet won his second title of the season on Sunday at the inaugural European Open in Antwerp (d. Schwartzman).

Eighth seed Jack Sock also continued his strong play indoors. The 24-year-old American saved all five break points in a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Sock made the If Stockholm Open final for the second consecutive year on Sunday (l. to del Potro).