Kei Nishikori digs deep to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili in Metz
Top seed Kei Nishikori came back from a 3-1 deficit in the deciding set to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili in the Moselle Open quarter-finals.
The Japanese player comfortably won the opening set, but fifth seed Basilashvili fought back to level it at one set each before building a handy lead in the third set after breaking early on.
However, Nishikori turned things around with a break in game six and then wrapped up the match with another break in game 10.
He will face either Matthias Bachinger or Yannick Maden for a place in the final.
Frenchman Gilles Simon upset compatriot and fourth seed Richard Gasquet with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory to move into the semi-finals.
Gasquet had won the pair’s previous eight encounters, but Simon finally ended his losing streak in one hour and 34 minutes on Friday.
No one beats Gilles Simon nine times in a row…😉
For the first time in nine meetings, Simon beats Richard Gasquet to reach the @MoselleOpen semi-finals 👏 pic.twitter.com/vNZaaTQEF0
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 21, 2018
He will face Radu Albot after the Moldovan reached his maiden ATP Tour semi-final with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania.
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