Guillermo Garcia-Lopez's fine form continues from Thailand as he saw off sixth seed Feliciano Lopez in Tokyo at the Japan Open.
Garcia-Lopez lifted the Thailand Open title at the weekend, putting out world number one Rafael Nadal in the semi-final, and that good form is continuing as he enjoyed a straight sets win over his compatriot.
The opening set was a tightly fought affair as both players were unable to break through each others defences, a tie break was needed to decide who would take the opener.
Once again they pair were nip and tuck but it was Garcia-Lopez who edged it 7-5. Into the second and it was break points that proved to be the difference.
Garcia-Lopez fought off all four break point chances that Lopez had created during the match and was able to capitalise on the chance that came his way.
The two breaks of serve were all that separated the two players in the second set as Garcia Lopez wrapped up a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win to reach another quarter final.
Garcia -Lopez will now face either Jurgen Melzer for Viktor Troicki in the quarter final.
Jarkko Nieminen was also in action as he booked his place the quarters, seeing off Daniel Gimeno-Traver in straight set. Nieminen was comfortably in control in the opening set as he took it 6-3 but the second set was much more of a contest.
A tie break was needed in the second and Nieminen took it 10-8 to take a win in eighty six minutes.
He will now face Radek Stepanek when his opponent Marco Chiudinelli retired with a back injury. Stepanek was winning the match 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 4-1 when Chiudinelli threw in the towel.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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