BARCELONA: Defending champion Kei Nishikori made his way into the Barcelona Open semi-finals by holding off Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Friday.

After the top-seeded Nishikori won the first set easily, Bautista Agut rebounded in the second and got his first break. He saved three break points in his final service game before using two big serves to force the third set.

Nishikori re-established his ground game to take a 3-1 lead before winning the last three games. “It was difficult match,” Nishikori said. “He started really well in the second set, and I was less focused, but I’m happy to win in three sets and fight really strong at the end.”

Nishikori will next face Martin Klizan after the Slovak needed to receive a massage on his right forearm twice en route to eliminating Tommy Robredo 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Klizan overcame his five double faults and Robredo’s eight aces by saving all six break points. Later, third-seeded David Ferrer played Philipp Kohlschreiber, while Fabio Fognini met Pablo Andujar a day after the Italian upset eight-time winner Rafael Nadal.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play