ROTTERDAM: Japan’s Kei Nishikori carved out a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win over Latvian Ernests Gulbis on Thursday to power into the Rotterdam Open quarter-finals.

Nishikori will meet Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 7-6 (7-1), 6-1, for a place in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor for a quarter-final place.

Tsonga, the 2017 champion in Rotterdam, next faces fifth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev who defeated Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 7-5.

Bosnian Damir Dzumhur advanced past Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) and next takes on French crowd-pleaser Gael Monfils.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2019