Kei Nishikori battled past the former grand slam champion Marin Cilic in three tight sets at the Tokyo Open to secure his third semi final appearance in four years.  The defending champion required two gruelling hours to eventually defeat Cilic 3-6 7-5 6-3 and set up a semi final showdown against either Benoit Paire or Nick Kyrgios.  

Nishikori defeats old foe

In what was there second meeting of the year, after Nishikori defeated Cilic in Washington, the two former grand slam finalists produced a typically spirited battle of wits.  Cilic, who had defeated Nishikori in the 2014 US Open final, raced out of the blocks as his aggresive form of tennis proved too hot to handle as he raced into a 6-3 lead and could see the sights of his third succesive semi final in 2015.  

But, Nishikori is widely known as a fighter and this would prove to the case.  An extremely tense second set unfolded beyond the watchful eyes of the Japanese crowd as their man struggled to get a foothold in the game.  But he refused to be beaten, even when at times Cilic was producing some sumptous tennis, and he would eventually reap his just rewards as he broke down the big serving Croat to take the set 7-5 and the two were thrust into a decider. 

Nishikori would battle through in the end as he converted one of his four break points to snatch a 6-3 win in the third and secure a 3-6 7-5 6-3 victory and take his tally over Cilic to 7 for 4.  It would also prove to be the second time in a week that Nishikori's resolve was tested as he had previously battled back from a set down to defeat Borna Coric.  

At times thrilling and at times gruelling, with Nishikori requiring a medical timeout, the match was played at the highest quality and reminiscient of many a grand slam battle. 

Wawrinka eases through to face Giles Muller 

In the other half of the draw, Stan Wawrinka barely broke sweat as he swatted aside the spirited challenge of unheralded American Austin Krajicek in straight sets.  Wawrinka, who disappointly lost in the first round last year in Tokyo, produced some of the tennis expected of a player now at home in the top four.  The Swiss won 6-3 6-3 to reach his first ever Tokyo Open semi final and he will face the talented Luxembourger Giles Muller, who defeated Gilles Simon in straight sets.