Japan's Nishikori reaches first ATP semi-final

By Simon Evans

DELRAY BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori reached his first ATP semi-final with a 6-2 6-4 victory over American Bobby Reynolds in the Delray Beach International on Friday.

The 18-year-old Nishikori will meet American Sam Querrey in Saturday's semi-finals after he comfortably beat compatriot Vincent Spadea 6-2 6-4.

The other semi will be between top seed James Blake and fellow American Robby Ginepri.

Nishikori's previous best result was reaching the quarter-finals at last year's tournament in Indianapolis.

"I played well in the first and second rounds and I grew in confidence. I felt relaxed," Nishikori told reporters.

Nishikori, who came into the tournament ranked 244th, moved to Florida at the age of 14 to train at the Nick Bollettieri Academy which has produced top players such as Russian Maria Sharapova.

Nishikori is the first Japanese player to reach an ATP semi-final since Shuzo Matsuoka in Beijing in 1995.

Blake, ranked 12th in the world, had little trouble in beating Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-2 6-4.