Nishikori rallies in Memphis, Hewitt exits

Kei Nishikori is on track to defend his US National Indoor Tennis Championships title after progressing to the semi-finals on Friday. The Japanese top seed rallied to overcome Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr 3-6 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 18 minutes at the ATP 250 event in Memphis. Nishikori, who lifted last year's crown thanks to a straight sets win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the final, will now contest his second semi-final of 2014 having reached the last four at the Brisbane International in January. Standing in the way of the Japanese star's second successive title is Michael Russell, who stunned third-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets. The American reached his third career ATP Tour semi with a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) victory over the veteran. Russell had several match points in the tie-break before eventually triumphing after an hour and 48 minutes on court. "I'm playing my best tennis," Russell said. "I mean the last few years I'm really trying to play more aggressive." Meanwhile, fourth seed Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei advanced to the final four after disposing of American qualifier Alex Kuznetsov 6-1 6-4. Lu will meet Ivo Karlovic in the other semi-final after the big-serving Croatian prevailed 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 against American Jack Sock.