Marin Cilic overpowered Steve Johnson 6-3 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships.
The sixth-seeded Croat saved all five break points he faced to set up a quarter-final with second-seed Kei Nishikori, who is bidding for his third Japan Open title.
Cilic beat Nishikori in the final of the 2014 US Open but the Japanese player won their last meeting in the semi-finals of the Citi Open in August and owns a 6-3 record against the Croatian.
In other matches, qualifier Austin Krajicek beat Joao Sousa 2-6 6-4 6-3 and will next face top-seeded Stan Wawrinka.
Nick Kyrgios, currently ranked No 22, beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-2, and will face Benoit Paire, who overcame Marcos Baghdatis 6-3 2-6 7-5.
The Frenchman broke his opponent early in the third set, and was broken back three games later, before sealing the win over Baghdatis in the eleventh game.
Paire is seen as the best French player of his generation and he is confidently heading for his first ATP title.
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