Tennis: Nishikori reaches second ATP final

Sixth-seeded Nishikori will face American wildcard Ryan Sweeting in the final.

HOUSTON: Japan’s Kei Nishikori advanced to the second final of his career by beating Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 7-5 in the semi-final of the ATP Tour’s US Clay Court Championships.

Sixth-seeded Nishikori put away Uruguay’s Cuevas with a forehand winner on the second match point to reach the final, where he will face American wildcard Ryan Sweeting. The 21-year-old Nishikori broke seventh-seeded Cuevas in the fifth and 11th games of the second set before serving for the match.

World number 61 Nishikori had two aces and three double faults and won 71 per cent of her first serve points to reach his first final since winning at Delray Beach three years ago.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th,  2011.