Nishikori ousts Del Potro in Swiss Indoors quarterfinals

Luxembourg's Gilles Muller returns a ball to Argentina's Federico Delbonis during their quarterfinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. (Alexandra Wey/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

Japan's Kei Nishikori salutes the crowd after winning against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro, during their quarterfinal tennis match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland, on Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. (Alexandra Wey/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka during his match against Germany's Alexander Zverev, during their quarter final tennis match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland, on Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. (Alexandra Wey/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

Kei Nishikori ended Juan Martin del Potro's long winning run at the Swiss Indoors, edging their quarterfinal 7-5, 6-4 on Friday.

The third-seeded Japanese saved all eight of Del Potro's break-point chances, and created match point with his seventh ace. Nishikori clinched with an overhead volley winner at the net.

"I saved a lot of important points with my serve," said Nishikori, who had 10 break chances and took one in each set. "I played good tactics today."

Del Potro, a wild-card entry here, won back-to-back Basel titles in 2012 and 2013. The 28-year-old Argentine missed the next two editions due to persistent left wrist injuries.

In Saturday's semifinals, Nishikori plays Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, who earlier outlasted Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3).