TOKYO — Local favorite Kei Nishikori advanced to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory over Sam Querrey on Wednesday.
Second-seeded Nishikori set up match point with a blistering backhand down the line and won with a forehand smash, securing his third straight win in seven matches against the unseeded Querrey.
French Open champion and top seed Stan Wawrinka avenged last year's opening round defeat to Tatsuma Ito, by beating the 116th-ranked Japanese 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to book his place in the quarterfinals.
The 25-year-old Nishikori, who is bidding for his third Japan Open title, has now reached the quarterfinals or better at 13 of his past 16 tournaments.