(Reuters) - Jack Sock powered past fourth-seeded Kei Nishikori 6-3 2-6 6-2 on Friday to book a date with Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The 17th-seeded American, already a two-time winner on the tour this year, relied on his big serve and blistering forehand to defeat world number five Nishikori. Eighteen-times grand slam winner Federer advanced to the semi-finals without lifting a racket as suspected food poisoning forced Australian Nick Kyrgios to withdraw from their much anticipated quarter-final. Sock, meanwhile, registered a pair of firsts with his quarter-final conquest of Japan's Nishikori. Australian Kyrgios, meanwhile, took to twitter about an hour before the scheduled start time of his match against Federer to announce his withdrawal.

Source: The Star March 18, 2017 00:00 UTC