Japan's Nishikori returns the ball to Spain's David Ferrer at Rome Open on May 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Second-seed Kei Nishikori saved three consecutive match points in the final set to beat South African Kevin Anderson 2-6 6-4 7-6 in the quarter-finals at the Geneva Open on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Japanese managed an impressive recovery to hold his serve after trailing 0-40 in the 10th game of the third set. He needed a tie-breaker to claim the win and set up a semi-final clash with Mischa Zverev on Friday.

Nishikori, who accepted a late wild card into the ATP World Tour 250 event, is looking to get his clay-court season going ahead of the French Open after a third-round exit in Rome last week. A wrist injury kept him out of Barcelona and forced him to withdraw from Madrid quarter-finals earlier this month.

In Thursday's other quarter-final, Zverev eased past fifth-seed Steve Johnson 6-4 7-5 in a match that lasted an hour and 34 minutes.

Reuters