MIAMI, Feb 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Unseeded Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan
rallied for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over sixth-seeded Ugo Humbert Saturday to
reach the ATP Delray Beach final.
Nishioka, apparently refreshed by a second rain delay, roared through the
final set to advance to his second career final.
He won his only prior title match at Shenzhen in 2018.
On Sunday he’ll face either second-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada or fourth-
seeded American Reilly Opelka, who squared off in the second semi-final later
Saturday.
Nishioka, 24 and ranked 63rd in the world, is already projected to surpass
his career-best ranking of 58 on Monday.
After reaching that mark in March of 2017 Nishioka tore a left knee
ligament and dropped as low as 380th in the world in April 2018 before
starting to climb his way back.
Nishioka, who rallied to beat American Brandon Nakashima in the quarter-
finals, saved six of eight break points he faced and won 27 of 37 points in
the deciding set to beat the in-form Frenchman, who triumphed in Auckland in
January.