Anderson ends Nishikori run in New York

NEW YORK: South Africa’s Kevin Anderson ended Kei Nishikori’s hopes of a comeback victory on Saturday at the New York Open, beating the Japanese fifth seed in three sets in Long Island.

Top seed Anderson downed Nishikori 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a gruelling 2hr 11min semi-final and will now play America’s Sam Querrey in Sunday’s final. Nishikori had been chasing a first ATP Tour victory after returning from a five-month injury layoff. However the 28-year-old was slow to start, with Anderson racing through the first set to go 1-0 up before Nishikori found his range in the second.

Anderson’s reliable service game — he won 79 percent of his first serve points compared to Nishikori’s 60 percent — was to prove decisive in the third set tie-break. Nishikori dropped three service points in the tie-break, which 31-year-old world number 11 Anderson duly punished to wrap up the win.

Earlier, Querrey ended his long wait for a first victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino to book his place in the final. Second seed Querrey, who had lost all three of his previous meetings with the fourth-seeded Mannarino, came from behind to win 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3 to the delight of the home fans.