Tennis: Fognini crushes struggling Nishikori
Fabio Fognini beat Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on Wednesday.
MIAMI (AFP) - Italian Fabio Fognini, ranked 40th in the world, upset second seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old from Sanremo was the only unseeded player in the last eight but showed no serves as he took the game to his Japanese opponent.
It was the Italian s first victory in three attempts over Nishikori and his first Masters series quarter-final win since 2013, when he reached the last four in Monte-Carlo.
Fognini will play the winner of Wednesday s other quarter-final between Spain s Rafael Nadal and American Jack Sock.
Nishikori said he had not felt fully in top shape for the contest.
"I wasn t 100%, physically, I mean, it was tough conditions for me," he said, referring to the heat on the mid-afternoon Key Biscayne centre court.
"But it was also same for him, too. He was playing a lot of the long matches, but I think he still played good enough to beat me today," he added.
Fognini, who was cheered on by his friend, former Italy footballer Christian Vieri, said he had come through a real test.
"It wasn t easy and I was just focused on my game. I am very happy, I m in the semifinal, I m playing well and I feel good again on the court," he said.
"I m back at a high level again. Even before these results I was telling my friends and those around me that I was feeling in good shape and I was just needing to start getting the wins," he said.
