Evening all, and welcome to Cilic - Nishikori!

So there we go. That was a fun, though not brilliant match, with a thriller of an ending - join me in an hour for the night session!

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 4-6 Nishikori -

Another different between the two is that Nishikori has the confidence to commit to attack, and he finds himself at 0-15 after a sapping rally sees Cilic go long. Nishikori then does likewise when he needn't have done ... but then blocks back a huge serve and Cilic nets coming in! Huge point coming up, and Nishikori reads the change-up serve out wide, returning another first serve and Cilic nets! AND WHAT A RETURN FROM NISHIKORI TO SEAL THE MATCH! HE CHUCKS EVERYTHING AT A FOREHAND, AND HOW HE'S EARNED THIS! He started playing dreck, fought back from a set and a break down, allowed his man back in, then attacked the decider to illustrate why his record in them is so good. He plays Millman or Djokovic next, and will have to be much better assuming the latter wins, but in the meantime, well done him. And what a day for Japan!

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 4-5 Nishikori -

Nishikori is the better player now. His groundstrokes are cleverer because his angles are better, he moves better and is moving better ... but Cilic has that serve. He'll need it to stay in the competition.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 4-4 Nishikori -

Nishikori earns himself a break -point, so Cilic serves an ace - course he does - then closes.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 3-4 Nishikori -

After Cilic goes long with a forehand, he furiously thrashes the offending ball high into the stand; that'll learn it. And, McEnroe-style, a winner follows ... but he can't build on it because Nishikori's serving is too good ... until a double-fault makes it 40-30 and a backhand miss gives deuce. AND A BELTING RETURN THEN A BACKHAND MISS GIVES CILIC THE BREAK-BACK! Five minutes ago he was nearly gone, now we're right back at it! He should smash balls into the posh bit more often.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 2-4 Nishikori -

Nishikori looks really confident now, getting to 0-15 and then challenging when a ball is incorrectly called out in a rally that he's controlling. Cilic then gets to 30-15 but Nishikori's movement disconcerts him and he double-faults; they end up at deuce after Cilic nets a drop, surprised by the return of what looked like a service winner. From there, Nishikori earns and misses a break-point, after which Cilic removes him from the equation to hold. He's not giving it away.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 1-4 Nishikori -

Nishikori's doign really well at rushing Cilic, who - at the moment - isn't dextrous enough to beat his scurrying an angles. He holds to 15, and needs just two more games for the semeis.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 1-3 Nishikori -

But a double-fault and an unforced error gives Nishikori 0-30 ... what has Cilic got? A long forehand, that's what Cilic has got! But he saves the first two break-points, the second with a frankly dangerous forehand, so Nishikori comes in, returns, and Cilic nets! Is that the decisive blow!

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 1-2 Nishikori -

And there's a love-hold for Nishikori; apparently he has, or did have, the best final-set win percentage in the game.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 1-1 Nishikori -

We might just have, for the first time, both players playing well simultaneously. At the moment its manifesting in easy holds, rather than quality rallies, but the prospect is there.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 0-1 Nishikori

Good response from Nishikori, who has to play some rallies in holding to 15 and looks really assured in so doing.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 6-4 Nishikori -

Cilic is finding this hard - he can't find a first serve in going down 15-30 but a slinger down the middle redress the imbalance. An ace then follows, a monster second down the middle behind it, and a few shots later that's the set! A decider is upon us!

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 5-4 Nishikori -

Good gear from Nishikori, who holds to 15 and impressively so, an oblique ace out wide and backhand winner particularly noteworthy. Cilic will have to serve for it.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 5-3 Nishikori -

A love consolidation, finished with a 133mph ace out wide, and Cilic is back playing nicely.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 4-3 Nishikori -

As I was saying, two errors from Nishikori give Cilic 0-30 and another hands him three break-points! He dictates the next rally too, but a fine backhand from inside the backhand corner gives Nishikori respite ... but momentarily! Cilic gets on top and Nishikori spoons a forehand! We're on for a decider, and this is developing into something exceedingly compelling.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 3-3 Nishikori -

Basically there's not much going on here. It looks like we're headed for another breaker, only without the drama in the getting there. Cilic holds to 15.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 2-3 Nishikori -

This is now a normal match, with lots of holds and serve dictating.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 2-2 Nishikori -

My system crashed, but Cilic held.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 1-2 Nishikori -

Cilic goes on the attack and arranges himself break-point, but Nishikori cracks a forehand onto the baseline thereby eliciting the error. Cilic is playing really well now, and more bodacious groundstrokes give him advantage. Nishikori, though, hangs tough and cleans up via an advantage of his own.

Cilic 6-2 4-6 (5)6-7 1-1 Nishikori -

As I was saying, Cilic rushes through a love-hold.