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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday January 4, 2017

Kei Nishikori withstood a tight three-set test in Brisbane.

David Ferrer did not.

Roddick: Federer Third Favorite At Slams

The third-seeded Nishikori rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, triumph over American qualifier Jared Donaldson.

Australian wild card Jordan Thompson surprised the eighth-seeded Ferrer, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. The two hour, 38-minute victory sent Thompson into his first career ATP quarterfinal.



The 79th-ranked Thompson broke twice in the final set.

Though Thompson won only three points on his second serve in the decider, he dictated with his first serve, winning 19 of 23 points played on his first serve in the final set.

“I think it's impossible to wear down David Ferrer,” said Thompson. “I think I'm a bigger frame than he is. I think I have a better serve. So I think I tried to use that to my advantage.

"When I lost the first set, I tried to hunt down a few more forehands, get around, use my feet a bit more, use my speed to my advantage. It paid off. When I served for the match, he played a pretty good game. He kept his depth, and he played some pretty good points.”

Viktor Troicki served for the opening set against Stan Wawrinka before the second-seeded Swiss broke back igniting a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory.

The reigning US Open champion won 17 of 25 points played on the Serbian’s second serve, raising his record to 7-0 against Troicki.

Wawrinka will play 45th-ranked Briton Kyle Edmund for a semifinal spot.

Edmund held a 6-3, 3-1 lead over Lucas Pouille when the sixth-seeded Frenchman retired with a right foot injury. Pouille took a medical timeout holding a 1-0 second-set lead. When play resumed, Edmund won three games in a row before the hobbled Pouille pulled the plug on the match.

Our Take

Nishikori grew stronger and served sharpter as the match progressed.

The third seed won only two points on second serve during the second set as Donaldson punished forehand returns. Nishikori permitted just six points on serve in the decider.

Notes and Quotes

The 27-year-old Nishikori reached his sixth straight Brisbane quarterfinal.

Thompson posted a 3-10 record in 2016; he will try to score his third win of this week against Nishikori.

The last time Nishikori lost a completed match to an opponent ranked outside the Top 50 was at the 2014 Shanghai Rolex Masters when he dropped his opener to then 60th-ranked Jack Sock.

Nishikori and doubles partner Dominic Thiem fell to Sam Querrey and Gilles Muller in the doubles quarterfinal, 6-3, 7-6 (1).


 

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