Miami Open: Kei Nishikori survives five match points to beat Gael Monfils; enters semis

New Delhi: World number five Kei Nishikori of Japan survived five match points against Frenchman Gael Monfils to enter the semi-finals of the Miami Open on Friday.

Nishikori, 26, lost the first set 4-6, then fought back to win the 2 hour 32 minute long grueling match under Miami sun thanks to a third set tie-breaker.

The Japanese star took just 34 minutes to win the second set 6-3, but the deciding set lasted one hour and 19 minutes with Nishikori serving to stay in the match at the 11th game.

Monfils, ranked 16th in the world, raced to a 0-40 lead for the first match point, and Nishikori saved it. The game witnessed Nishikori saving three more match points.

After holding the hard fought game, Nishikori once again offered a break point, the fifth match point to Monfils, in the 13th game, only to prolong the fight.

In the tie-breaker, he got three mini-breaks to Monfils one, and won the match 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

He will play controversial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who beat Canadian Milos Roanic 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in their quarterfinal match at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park.