Top seed Stan Wawrinka overcame a second-set wobble to advance to the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships quarter-finals with victory over Tatsuma Ito.
The French Open champion had little trouble winning the first set 6-3 but lost his serve twice as wildcard Ito took the second 6-2.
The Swiss kept his composure, however, closing out the final set and with it a 6-3 2-6 6-4 win.
Second seed Kei Nishikori delighted the home crowd at the Ariake Colosseum as he recorded his 50th victory of the season with a 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 triumph over Sam Querrey.
Gilles Muller was made to work for his place in the last eight with a 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/5) victory over Jeremy Chardy, while Gilles Simon coasted to a 6-4 6-2 win over Jiri Vesely.
Marin Cilic moved into the second round with a 7-5 5-7 6-4 triumph over Donald Young, and in the day's final match Joao Souza beat seventh seed Feliciano Lopez 6-4 4-6 6-1.
Source: PA
