Kei Nishikori, Kevin Anderson reach Vienna Open final

Image Courtesy: Twitter/@keinishikori

Kei Nishikori will have a chance to win his first ATP title in over two years on Sunday after beating qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4 6-3 to reach the Vienna Open final.

The Japanese, ranked 11th in the world, will face this year`s Wimbledon runner-up Kevin Anderson after the South African defeated Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3 3-6 6-4. Nishikori, who won the last of his 11 titles in Memphis in 2016, will attempt to end a run of eight successive defeats in tournament finals.

Who do you think is going to win today? @keinishikori @KAndersonATP #erstebankopen pic.twitter.com/MMC8ztlIeR — Erste Bank Open (@ErsteBankOpen) October 28, 2018

On Saturday, he missed three break points in the first set before finally breaking in the 10th game with an aggressive forehand winner. Another break early in the second set was enough to ensure victory against his 71st-ranked opponent.

"The score might look easy, but the match was very tough," he said. "Kukushkin was defending well and never gave up."

Anderson hit 19 aces and won 77 percent of first-serve points as he beat Verdasco in just under 2-1/2 hours to reach his fifth final of the season. Both the players will be looking to put their best foot forward in a vital clash.