Saturday 4 October 2014 08:54, UK
Home favourite Kei Nishikori booked his place in the quarter-finals at the expense of Donald Young to the delighted his fans at the Rakuten Japan Open.
The 24-year-old US Open finalist and last week's Kuala Lumpur winner needed just under an hour and a half to triumph over the American 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in Tokyo.
The fourth seed started slowly, with his serve looking shaky, but he tightened up his game to seal the first set and get his quest for a fourth ATP World Tour title this year back on track.
The world No 7 then saved a break point at 5-6 in the second set, before making no mistakes with his own opportunity in the tie-break to take the win and give the 10,000 spectators inside the Ariake Colosseum something to shout about.
He will now face Jeremy Chardy on Friday for a place in the semi-finals after the Frenchman shocked seventh seed Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4.
In the other side of the draw, big-hitting Milos Raonic cruised to a straightforward 6-4 6-3 margin over Jurgen Melzer in just under an hour and 15 minutes.
That victory means the Canadian will next battle Denis Istomin in the last eight after he edged out qualifier Michal Przysiezny 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
