Nishikori, Ferrer enter semifinals

April 25, 2015 02:58 am | Updated 02:58 am IST - Barcelona

Reigning champion Kei Nishikori moved into the semifinals of the Barcelona Open with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win over Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday.

The Japanese is the favourite to retain his title after Rafael Nadal’s shock defeat to Fabio Fognini on Thursday and impressively romped through the deciding set after being forced all the way for the first time this week.

Nishikori eased through the first set after breaking in the first game, but Bautista Agut responded by breaking for 4-2 in the second and held off three break points to serve out for the set.

The world No. 5 upped his game in the third, though, as the depth and power of his groundstrokes forced Bautista Agut onto the back foot as Nishikori cruised through the final five games to take his place in the last four where he will meet Martin Klizan.

“In the second set he started to play well and I had to raise my level a little bit,” said top-seeded Nishikori.

“I concentrated really well in the third set, got ahead early and came through really strong in the end.

“I feel sorry for Rafa, but Fognini is a very tough player and there are plenty other good players in the draw like Klizan or David Ferrer.”

Klizan ended the hopes of veteran home favourite Tommy Robredo in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4.

Third seed Ferrer is also into the last four after he overcame some stiff resistance from Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber to win 6-3, 7-6(5).

Meanwhile, Romania’s Simona Halep will face Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals at the WTA tournament in Stuttgart after her straight-sets win over Italy’s Sara Errani.

Halep in last-four World No. 3 Halep needed just under an hour-and-a-half to seal a 6-4, 6-4 win over Errani in a tight quarterfinal on the indoor clay court.

Halep finally converted her fourth match point, and there were a total of 16 breaks in the 20 games.

“It was a tough game, she defended very well and it was hard to finish points off against her,” said Halep.

“I’m looking forward to the semifinals now.”

Halep, the 2014 French Open finalist, now faces former world No. 1 and boxing fan Wozniacki after the Dane floored Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3 in just over an hour.

“I surprised myself by having fun out there today, I don’t normally like clay, but it was nice to slide and run,” said fourth-seed Wozniacki, who says she sometimes spars in training.

“I like to box from time to time, it's a great cardio work-out,” added the 24-year-old.

The results (Quarterfinals):

At Barcelona: ATP Barcelona Open: Kei Nishikori bt Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 3-6, 6-1; Martin Klizan bt Tommy Robredo 7-6(5), 6-4, Pablo Andujar bt Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3; David Ferrer bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6(5).

At Bucharest: ATP Nastase-Tiriac Trophy: Daniel Gimeno-Traver bt Gilles Simon 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2; Jiri Vesely bt Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4; Gael Monfils bt Simon Bolelli 6-3, 7-6(4); Guillermo Garcia-Lopez bt Lucas Rosol 6-4, 7-6(7).

At Stuttgart: WTA Porsche Grand Prix: Angelique Kerber bt Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2; Caroline Wozniacki bt Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3; Simona Halep bt Sara Errani 6-4, 6-4.

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