Intro:

US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori qualified for his first ATP Tour final since losing to Marin Cilic in New York when he defeated Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in the Malaysian Open on Saturday.

Script:

Finland's Jarkko Nieminen took on US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori in the semi-final of the Malaysian Open on Saturday.

The Japanese top seed took the first set by breaking Nieminen's serve, hitting a powerful cross-court winner on the backhand to leave the unseeded Finn stranded.

But Nieminen held his own in the second set, breaking Nishikori before winning to love in the deciding game as the favourite sent a return too long.

Despite recently saying his US Open exploits had drained him physically, Nishikori turned on the style in the final set and romped to a 5-2 lead before Nieminen double-faulted on match point.

Nishikori will face France's Julien Benneteau in the final.