Kei Nishikori to face Kevin Anderson in Vienna with ATP Finals spots up for grabs

Kei Nisjikori will face Kevin Anderson in the final of the Vienna Open, as he seeks to end his 2018 drought.
The Japanese star has already played two ATP finals this year and lost them both, but he’ll get a chance to claim a crown after beating Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-4 6-3 in the semi-finals.
Nishikori has lost eight straight finals since winning the last of his 11 ATP titles in February 2016.
BIG WIN for Kei who *passes* John Isner in the ATP Race.
8. Dominic Thiem, 3535
9. Kei Nishikori, 3090
10. John Isner, 3065— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 26, 2018
Anderson, meanwhile, came through a tough match against Fernando Verdasco, eventually winning 6-3 3-6 6-4.
The final will have extra spice given the ATP Finals connotations.
Anderson will qualify for the showpiece event in London next month with a win, while Nishikori will move to within 125 points of making the cut if he can find a way past the South African.
More from Tennis365:
Marcus Buckland talks to Tennis365 as he offers insight into the real Andy Murray
Juan Martin del Potro, the comeback king of tennis, not giving up on ATP Finals
Five talking points ahead of ATP Finals: Big Three’s return, Rafael Nadal’s barren run and more
Kyle Edmund’s maiden win, how does it compare to five of Britain’s best?
Tennis Today: ‘Uncomfortable’ Novak Djokovic ‘shows off’ while Juan Martin del Potro eyes comeback
Latest
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios on Novak Djokovic: ‘He’s technically our LeBron James and has to set an example for tennis’
Nick Kyrgios on his latest criticism of Novak Djokovic.
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray facing ‘huge year’, but brother Jamie says former world No 1 still has ‘a lot of great tennis in him’
Jamie Murray on brother Andy’s comeback hopes.
-
Tennis News
Daniela Hantuchova praises Naomi Osaka for being a ‘wonderful inspiration in women’s tennis’
“What a wonderful young grown-up lady she has become.”
-
Australian Open
Spanish player feels ‘abandoned’ after positive coronavirus test: ‘It’s the worst experience of my career’
“It’s far and away the worst experience of my career.”
-
Australian Open
Rafael Nadal’s thinly veiled jibe after Novak Djokovic quarantine pleas: ‘Some of us help each other privately’
Rafael Nadal has his say on the quarantine saga.
-
Kevin Palmer
Exclusive – Barbara Schett insists Novak Djokovic had good intentions with his letter to Australian Open chief
Barbara Schett talks to Tennis365 about Novak Djokovic.
-
Tennis News
Former world No 1 urges Australian public to give Novak Djokovic ‘another chance to explain himself’
“He was being a leader and it just came off wrong.”
-
Tennis News
Ashleigh Barty happy to ‘knuckle down’ and get back into routine ahead of Australian Open
Ashleigh Barty ready for her big comeback.
-
Australian Open
2021 Australian Open prize money breakdown: Smaller cheques for winners, boost for first-round losers
A look at the 2021 Australian Open prize money.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios ‘very misunderstood’, but he will ‘always have your back’, says fellow Australian
“We’re almost brothers – pretty close.”