Two-time champion Kei Nishikori weathered a storm Monday to secure his spot in the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships second round. The Japanese star delighted 10,000 fans at the Ariake Colosseum with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 comeback win over Borna Coric.

Nishikori, who is one match win away from his 50th victory of 2015, is battling to qualify for next month’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the second straight year. Four spots are left at the 15-22 November season finale at The O2 in London.

Coric broke Nishikori in the first and third games, dominating baseline rallies and attacking the net with great fluency. At 1-5, Nishikori saved three set points at 15/40 and Advantage, but minutes later he could not prevent Coric from wrapping up the 48-minute opener.

Nishikori found his rhythm and from a 3-1 lead in the second set clinched five straight games against his 18-year-old opponent, who is the youngest player in the Top 50 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Nishikori won 72 per cent of his first service points and saved eight of 10 break points for victory in two hours and eight minutes. He will next face Sam Querrey, who, playing in Tokyo for the first time since 2008, recorded his 20th match win of the season by beating Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6(5), 6-4 in 83 minutes.

Tatsuma Ito knocked out fellow Japanese wild card Yoshihito Nishioka 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 in two hours and 20 minutes and he now waits on the winner of top seed Stan Wawrinka or Radek Stepanek, who play on Tuesday.