Delray Beach, FL-A star is being born in Delray Beach. Remember the name Kei Nishikori. The 18-year-old Japanese youngster rolled into his first career ATP semifinal by defeating American Bobby Reynolds 6-2
6-4. In the other daytime singles semifinal, Sam Querrey outsted local veteran Vince Spadea in straight sets ? also 6-2, 6-4.
 
Nishikori and Reynolds were both aspiring to achieve their first career ATP semi but it was the youngster Nishikori who outplayed the 25-year-old veteran. The Bollettieri Academy prospect who stands 5-10 and weighs 150, displayed several weapons against Reynolds including a dominating forehand which earned him the first break in the third game.
 
Nishikori never lost control of the set as his pulverizing forehand battered Reynolds.  
 
In the final game of the match, Nishikori was at his best. A Marcelo Rios-like leaping backhand winner made it 15-0. A backhand crosscourt winner made it 30-0. Then Nishikori closed out the match with a pair of unreturnable serves. Nishikori is the first Japanese ATP player to reach a semifinal since Shuzo Matsuoka in Beijing in 1985.  He is also the first qualifier to make the semifinals here since Robert Kendrick did it in 2003.
 
Nishikori's new ranking is projected to be #175 with this semifinal run. After the match Nishikori said he is not surprised by his success this week, "I wasn't nervous. I was playing good in the first and second round. I got confidence. All the coaches say I could win this."
 
In  the second singles quarterfinal of this  perfect Florida day, Querrey showed Delray Beach fans just why he is considered one of the best and the brightest of the young American players.  
 
The Californian neutralized the usually steady baseliner Vince Spadea, with the  forehand coming through as his money shot. Also noticable were Querrey's placements that were able to make Spadea look a half step slow. The 20-year-old's 10 aces and excellent net play also added to Spadea's dilemma. Spadea never threatened the Querrey
serve in losing the first set in what seemed like 15 minutes.
 
"So far, this is the best I played of the two or three matches. I served incredible," said Querrey. "I think I played the big points very smart."
 
Spadea, who was playing in his 11th tournament here and had reached four straight semifinals, tried to make a battle of it. He tried to break down the Querrey forehand but the third-year ATP pro was up to the task. The six-foot-six Querrey handled the long, physical points from the baseline without faltering and his consistency forced Spadea to try at least three drop shots, all of which failed.
 
Querrey, who reached his second career semifinal, will be favored in tomorrow's semi against Nishikori, but the two have never played.
 
Doubles opened the day with the combination of Max Mirnyi and Jamie Murray defeating Victor Hanescu and Ross Hutchins 3-6, 6-4, 10-5.