GENEVA — Kei Nishikori saved three straight match points in the deciding set before outlasting Kevin Anderson 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the Geneva Open quarterfinals Thursday.
The second-seeded Nishikori was serving at 4-5, 0-40 before rallying to beat the 62nd-ranked South African, who fired 14 aces without allowing any by his opponent.
Nishikori also trailed in the tiebreaker before creating a second match-point chance with a forehand crosscourt service return for a winner. He clinched with a forehand winner off a looping net-cord ball.
The No. 9-ranked Japanese player will face 33rd-ranked Mischa Zverev of Germany in the semifinals on Friday.
The Russian-born Zverev, who came through qualifying, beat fifth-seeded Steve Johnson of the United States 6-4, 7-5.
Tsonga saunters into semis
Home favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sauntered into the semi-finals of the Lyon Open with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Russian youngster Karen Khachanov Thursday.
The second seed needed little more than an hour to overwhelm his opponent, dropping only six points on serve.
He will face Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili in the semis after he knocked out Argentine qualifier Nicolas Kicker 6-3, 6-1.
Top seeded Canadian Milos Raonic continued his impressive recent claycourt form as he moved into the last four by seeing off qualifier Gastao Elias 6-4, 6-3.
Shvedova becomes 5th player to retire from Nuremberg Cup
Yaroslava Shvedova became the latest player to retire from the Nuremberg Cup on Thursday, when she withdrew because of an injury after losing the first set of her quarterfinal to Misaki Doi of Japan 6-4.
Doi will meet defending champion Kiki Bertens in the semifinals. Bertens defeated fifth-seeded Alison Riske of the United States 6-4, 6-3.
Czech qualifier Barbora Krejcikova rallied to defeat Carina Witthoeft, the last German in the clay-court tournament, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2), and will next face second-seeded Yulia Putintseva or Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the semifinals.
Shvedova's injury followed retirements by Laura Siegemund with a knee injury Wednesday, Eugenie Bouchard with an ankle injury on Monday, and earlier withdrawals by Alexandra Cadantu, and Maria Sakkari, who had been playing Doi in the first round.
ATP Tour Finals to stay in London until 2020
The season-ending ATP World Tour Finals will remain in London until 2020, the men's governing body confirmed Thursday.
Since moving to London's cavernous O2 Arena, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, in 2009, the event featuring the world's top eight singles players and top eight doubles pairs, has been hugely successful with sell-out crowds at most sessions.
This year's tournament will have new lead sponsors with Japanese firm Nitto Denko Corporation taking over from Barclays.
It will now be called the Nitto ATP Finals.
Azarenka handed Mallorca Open wildcard
Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has been handed a wildcard into next month's Mallorca Open as she gears up for a return to Wimbledon following the birth of her son last year.
Azarenka, who won the Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami tournaments prior to announcing her pregnancy in July 2016, is currently unranked.
"I am happy to announce that I will come back on court in Mallorca," Azarenka told reporters of the tournament that starts on June 18. "I am very willing to play again and it will be special to do it in such an unbelievable place."
The 27-year-old Belarusian, who has won two Australian Open titles, has a protected ranking entry into the Wimbledon Championships, starting on July 3. — Agencies
