Nishikori through to 4th round at Australian Open

Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese male to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open in more than 40 years, beating France's Julien Benneteau 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Saturday.

Nishikori converted fewer than half of his break-point chances in the first three sets, but improved that to two from three in the fourth set to clinch the 3-hour, 25-minute match on Show Court 3 at Melbourne Park.

No Japanese player has advanced this far at the Australian Open since the start of the Open era in 1968. Nishikori will take on 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round on Monday.