Benoit Paire kept his impressive 2015 season run rolling as he notched another top 10 win, with a victory over world number 6 Kei Nishikori. The Japan native was unable to reach another Rakuten Japan Open final as he did in 2012 and 2014.

Paire would come through 1-6 6-4 6-2, in a match that lasted a total of 1 hour and 48 minutes. With the victory, he reaches his 4th ATP World Tour final and looks to grab his 2nd title of his career. He goes on to face Swiss number 2 Stan Wawrinka in the final.

Coming in to the match against Paire, Nishikori held a 2-1 head to head advantage. The last match the 2 played would lead to a big upset for the Frenchmen, as he would win in 5 sets in the 1st round of this years US Open. Striking 11 aces and saving 7 of 9 break points in the match, the 26 year old is playing the best tennis of his career.

Nishikori strikes first

As proceedings would get started, Nishikori would use his home Japanese fans to his advantage. The world number 6 would take a quick 3-0 lead. Paire would have no answers for the shotmaking he was facing. Nishikori's shots were hitting lines and going all in his favor, using his aggressive game plan properly. Soon after he would break in the 6th game and wrap up the 1st set easily, with a 6-1 scoreline.

The Japanese number 1 would face no break points and go 2 for 3 on break point opportunities.

Competitive 2nd set goes to Paire

The 2nd set would prove to be much more competitive. The Frenchman would start to get a foothold in the match and a feel for his rally shots. This has proved to be his major improvement this year, as in the past, he would fold when a match was not going in his favor. The set would go to 3 all. 

Paire would be truly tested, as a barrage of shot making from the world number six would give him a hard time on serve. The Frenchman's focus would prove to be on point as he would save 5 break points, eventually holding in a game that would go 20 points in length. This would propel Paire with a sense of confidence, leading 5-4 with Nishikori on serve. Paire took his shot at the break going up 40-15, but he lost his first two set point opportunity. In his 3rd chance he would not be denied, the world number 32 hit a stunning down the line backhand winner to draw the match even at a set piece.

Paire would go 1 for 3 on break point opportunities in the set- which was all he needed as he was not broken.

Paire powers through to the final

The odds would soon be in the Frenchman's favor. At first, a match that seemed easily won by Nishikori, soon was Paire's for the taking. The 26 year old would open up with an important 3-0 lead as he would break in the 2nd game. At 4-2, Paire would be tested with a break point on 30-40, but he saved it with an impressive ace down the middle. With the hold, Paire would never look back, as he took his chances on the world number 6's serve up to go up 5-2. Nishikori would be unable to find answers as he stayed very much on the defensive. 

It would take 1 match point opportunity for the Frenchman to close, as he would get Nishikori scrambling, and eventually hit a lob long to finish the match. Paire took the set 6-2 and with that, the match, and a place in the final.