Intro:

Kei Nishikori seals his second Japan Open title after a draining 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 victory over Milos Raonic.

Script:

Kei Nishikori claimed his second Japan Open title in three years after overcoming Milos Raonic in three sets.

In a rematch of their marathon US Open fourth round duel, fourth seed Nishikori clinched the first set via a tie-break.

Raonic fought back in the second and levelled with this ace; one of 22 throughout the match compared to Nishikori's one.

But the 24-year-old Japanese star delighted the sell-out 10,000 spectators at the Ariake Colosseum by winning the third and taking the match 7-6 4-6 6-4.

SOUNDBITE: Kei Nishikori (english) 2014 Japan Open champion:

Q: Kei - an emotional victory?

"Yeah, it's amazing. It was a really tough, tough match. He was serving really well, so it was tough to return but luckily on the last couple of points..."

Nishikori has won back-to-back ATP World Tour titles for the first time, having lifted the Kuala Lumpur crown last week.