Reigning champion Kei Nishikori made quick work of Feliciano Lopez, walloping the Spaniard in a straight-sets victory Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Rakuten Japan Open.
The world No. 13 Nishikori needed little over an hour to put away Lopez, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 in the final singles match of the day on center court at Ariake Tennis Forest Park.
In an earlier match, big serving Canadian third seed Milos Raonic powered past Jeremy Chardy of France in a clinical 6-4, 6-3 win to advance to the next round for a meeting against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia, a 7-5, 6-4 winner over French qualifier Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the first match of the day.