Italian Fabio Fognini, ranked 40th in the world, upset second seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old from Sanremo was the only unseeded player in the last eight but showed no serves as he took the game to his Japanese opponent.
It was the Italian’s first victory in three attempts over Nishikori and his first Masters series quarter-final win since 2013, when he reached the last four in Monte-Carlo.
Fognini will play the winner of Wednesday’s other quarter-final between Spain’s Rafael Nadal and American Jack Sock.
Nishikori said he had not felt fully in top shape for the contest.
“I wasn’t 100%, physically, I mean, it was tough conditions for me,” he said, referring to the heat on the mid-afternoon Key Biscayne centre court.
“But it was also same for him, too. He was playing a lot of the long matches, but I think he still played good enough to beat me today,” he added.
Fognini, who was cheered on by his friend, former Italy footballer Christian Vieri, said he had come through a real test.
“It wasn’t easy and I was just focused on my game. I am very happy, I’m in the semifinal, I’m playing well and I feel good again on the court,” he said.
“I’m back at a high level again. Even before these results I was telling my friends and those around me that I was feeling in good shape and I was just needing to start getting the wins,” he said.
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