ATP: Bear strong Kei Nishikori would wait for Dominic Thiem in Vienna

Kei Nishikori has reached the quarter-finals of the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Vienna. There the Japanese could meet local hero Dominic Thiem.

Kei Nishikori is serious: The Japanese, who still has great ambitions for a place in the ATP Final in London, did not give Karen Khachanov a chance in his round of 16 at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna’s Stadthalle. Nishikori was highly concentrated in the first match of the day from the first minute on, winning 6:2 and 6:2 after a playing time of 1:04 hours.

Khachanov had travelled to Vienna last Sunday with the recommendation of his third tournament victory on the ATP Tour in Moscow, but was already quite vulnerable in his opening match against Austrian Dennis Novak. Nishikori was now one size too big.

In the final eight, the 2014 US Open finalist could face local hero Dominic Thiem, a direct contender in the battle for one of the London spots. Thiem, however, faces a difficult task with Sam Querrey (not before 17:00, in our live ticker).

John Isner is also flirting with a place at the end of the season. The US player will face Gael Monfils in the last round of sixteen.