(Reuters) - Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori reached the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in California with a 7-6(6) 7-6(5) win over American Steve Johnson on Tuesday.
Nishikori, uncomfortable in the blustery conditions at Indian Wells, saved four set points in the first tiebreak and, after failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second set, escaped another tiebreak to close out a nearly two-hour battle.
"It's not easy with these windy conditions and the ball and altitude, everything," said Nishikori. "It's tough to expect great tennis here, but I thought I was patient today.