Published September 18, 2015
Kei Nishikori of Japan will defend his title at the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships after beating American Michael Russell 6-3, 6-2 Saturday in the semifinals.
Nishikori, who won his third career title here last year, needed only 63 minutes to advance despite trailing 1-3 to the 35-year-old American to open the match. Ranked 16th in the world, Nishikori will play either Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan or Ivo Karlovic of Croatia on Sunday.
The No. 1 seed broke Russell's serve to tie the first set at 3-3, and Nishikori broke the American again and served out to take the first set in 34 minutes.
Russell upset former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt to reach only his third career ATP Tour semifinal. Unforced errors mixed with Nishikori's efficient serve kept Russell from what would have been his first final.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/defending-champ-kei-nishikori-of-japan-downs-michael-russell-6-3-6-2-to-reach-memphis-final