Nishikori Saves 3 M.P. In Thrilling Comeback

Second seed Kei Nishikori withstood a stern challenge from Kevin Anderson on Thursday at the Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open, surviving three match points to reach the semi-finals 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).

“There haven’t been too many times that I’m down match point and win, so it’s great for me,” said Nishikori. “He had more chances, but I served a little bit better in the end. It’s important to win some matches like this.” 

The Japanese star rallied from 2/4 in the final set tie-break and earned a match point at 6/5 with a backhand passing shot winner. Anderson erased it with a forehand winner, but Nishikori responded with a forehand return winner in the next point. The second seed hit another winner off that wing at 7/6 to wrap up the match after two hours and 29 minutes.

Nishikori improves his FedEx ATP Head2Head against Anderson to 4-1 and reaches his first ATP World Tour semi-final on clay this season. He’s seeking his first title since winning Memphis in February 2016 (d. Fritz).

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He’ll next play qualifier Mischa Zverev, who continued his run through the draw by defeating fifth seed Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-5. Zverev won all 14 of his first serve points in the opening set and 81 per cent in the match. The German moves into his maiden ATP World Tour semi-final of the season and first since last October in Basel.

“It’s my first [ATP World Tour] semi-final on clay, so I can be very happy with that,” said Zverev. “It took six or seven tournaments on clay, but now I’m finally finding my game on this surface.”

Top seed Stan Wawrinka was down a set and an early break to an in-form Sam Querrey, but delighted the home crowd by fighting back to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Wawrinka improves to 4-3 on clay this season and is through to his maiden ATP World Tour semi-final on the red dirt this year. He defeated Marin Cilic in last year’s final for his first title on home soil. The Swiss star also boosts his FedEx ATP Head2Head against Querrey to 5-1.

Awaiting Wawrinka in the semi-finals is Andrey Kuznetsov, who prevailed against lucky loser Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-2, 1-6, 7-5. Kuznetsov moves into his second ATP World Tour semi-final of the season after also reaching the final four this January in Sydney. He is even with Wawrinka in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry at 1-1 and won their most recent match in March 2016 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Miami. 

DOUBLES

Both doubles quarter-finals on Thursday didn’t make it to court due to withdrawals. Scott Lipsky and Leander Paes advanced past Rogerio Dutra Silva and Paolo Lorenzi due to a right ankle injury sustained by Dutra Silva. Lipsky/Paes will face top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau on Friday.

Wild cards Johan Nikles and Tim Puetz moved past third seeds Treat Huey and Robert Lindstedt after Lindstedt pulled out with a groin injury. Nikles/Puetz also received a walkover in their opening round. They will take on second seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah for a place in the final.