Kei Nishikori edges past David Ferrer to advance through to Madrid Open final

Kei Nishikori has booked his place in the final of the Madrid Open having defeated David Ferrer 7-6 5-7 6-3 tonight.

The opening set of the contest was tightly contested throughout, with both players losing serve on separate occasions.

Having been forced into a tiebreak, Nishikori broke home favourite Ferrer's serve twice to eventually take the set.

Ferrer pulled the match level in the second set in what was another close battle, breaking serve twice to take the set after seeing his Japanese opponent miss a match point.

The final set went by the way of serve until the sixth game when world number five Ferrer lost out, paving the way for Nishikori to seal a 6-3 triumph to take the game.

Nishikori will face Rafael Nadal in the final after the Spaniard overcame Roberto Bautista-Agut earlier today.