Former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori has marched into a potential Brisbane International quarterfinal match against Australia’s Bernard Tomic.
The Japanese star extended his career record against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin to 4-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Pat Rafter Arena on Wednesday.
The second round win means the second seed will meet the winner of Wednesday night’s clash between seventh seed Tomic and Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.
Nishikori, a two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist, will be aiming to go at least one step further than his past three visits to Brisbane, which have all ended in semi-final defeat.
Austria’s Dominic Thiem is also through to the last eight, continuing his good form with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 win over American Denis Kudla.
The youngest man in the world top 20, 22-year-old Thiem backed up from his three-set win over Australia’s James Duckworth on Tuesday with the 57-minute demolition of world No.69 Kudla.
Thiem next faces the winner of Wednesday afternoon’s match between third seed Marin Cilic and Korea’s Hyeon Chung.