Asian number one Kei Nishikori managed to withstand an early assault as he cruised into the semifinals of the Miami Open after battling past Frenchman Gael Monfils on Friday.
The sixth-seed suffered a first-set defeat at the hands of his French compatriot before eventually overcoming him 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) in a bruising quarter-final clash that lasted for two hours and 29 minutes.
With the win, Nishikori has set up a semifinal showdown against Australian controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who has also stormed into the last four after beating Milos Roanic 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
