Nishikori not familiar with Flushing flashback

PARIS - Kei Nishikori claimed he couldn't remember his upset win over Andy Murray at last year's US Open after booking a rematch with the world No 1 at Roland Garros on Monday.

The Japanese star recovered from a dreadful start to beat Spain's Fernando Verdasco 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in the French Open fourth round to reach his seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Nishikori surpassed Jiro Satoh for the most quarterfinal appearances by a Japanese man, as he made the last eight for the second time in three years in Paris.

He will take on Murray for a place in the semifinals, with the Scot prevailing in eight of their 10 previous meetings.

Nishikori dumped the 2012 US Open champion last year in Flushing Meadows, New York, after rallying from two sets to one down.

"Sorry that I don't remember much," Nishikori responded when asked of the confidence he could draw from that five-set victory.

"You know when we play it's always a battle," he added. "Yeah, for sure, it's gonna be a tough one.

"We have been playing so many times. He's great player. Very smart tennis player. It's never easy, and I think this week he's been playing well."

Verdasco knocked out German ninth seed Alexander Zverev in the first round and looked en route to claiming another top-10 victim when he raced through the opening set.

"I lost my mind, after 6-0 down I knew I had to change something," said Nishikori.

"I wasn't do anything in the first set, but I tried to play deeper and more aggressive ... and little by little I got better.

"But still it was a really, really tough battle. There were so many long rallies, second and third sets. I don't know how I got the second and third.

"The fourth, I think it was perfect tennis I played. So, yeah, very tough battle but very happy to win today."

Nishikori was playing for the third day running after his last-32 clash with South Korean Chung Hyeon was held up by rain.

"I'm a little bit sore. Three days in a row. Not easy. Long matches. But I'm sure it's going to be OK. I have one day rest tomorrow (Tuesday)."

Murray, who coasted into the last eight with a straight-sets win over Russia's Karen Khachanov, knows Nishikori will represent his biggest test so far.

"I obviously lost to Kei at the US Open last year. He plays well on the clay. You know, very solid off both wings. Moves well, very quick," said Murray.

Agence France - Presse