Nishikori advances to 3rd round at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori stayed on track for another strong Grand Slam performance when he beat Ivan Dodig 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-6

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori stayed on track for another strong Grand Slam performance when he beat Ivan Dodig 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (0) on Thursday in the second round of the Australian Open.

Dodig was serving for the fourth set at 5-4 when Nishikori broke the Croatian's serve, lashing a backhand past Dodig, who stood helpless at the net.

Nishikori wasted a match point in the 12th game before shutting out Dodig in the tiebreaker to clinch the match in 2 hours, 47 minutes, delighting the hundreds of Japanese fans in the crowd.

Nishikori lost in the final of the U.S. Open to Marin Cilic, who is not playing the Australian Open due to a right shoulder injury.