The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
32°F
Current Conditions
Mist
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Kei Nishikori finds footing on clay; in semifinals in Argentina Open

Kei Nishikori of Japan returns the ball to Joao Sousa of Portugal, during a tennis match of the ATP Argentina Open, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. (Agustin Marcarian / Associated Press)
Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Top-seeded Kei Nishikori is finding his footing on clay.

After struggling in his first match in the Argentina Open, the Japanese defeated No. 6 Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-1, 6-4 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the outdoor clay-court event.

Nishikori will face Carlos Berlocq of Argentina, a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 winner over Thiago Monteiro of Brazil.

Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta will play the Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov in the other semifinal. Carreno Busta beat fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, and Dolgopolov topped Austria’s Gerald Melzer 7-5, 6-4.