Nishikori beats Cilic in US Open final rematch

WASHINGTON (AP) Kei Nishikori rallied to beat Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday in the Citi Open semifinals in their first showdown since Cilic beat Nishikori in the U.S. Open final exactly 11 months ago.

The second-seeded Nishikori raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set. The Japanese player broke the Croatian's serve at 5-4 in the third immediately after the No. 3 seed broke Nishikori's serve to even the set.

Nishikori, the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam final, improved to 42-9 this season. Only Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have won more ATP this matches this year, with 48 apiece.

Nishikori will face John Isner, a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9) winner over Steve Johnson in an all-American match in the second semifinal.