Angelique Kerber advances in Brisbane International

Germany’s Angelique Kerber returns to Madison Brengle of the US in their Brisbane International women’s singles second round match on Wednesday. Kerber won 6-3, 6-0 — AFP

Japan’s Kei Nishikori overcame a slow start to cruise past Mikhail Kukushkin and move into the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Wednesday.

Nishikori lost his opening serve to go 2-0 down in the first set but soon recovered to get on top of Kukushkin and ease to a 6-3, 6-4 win.

“I thought it was a great match,” the second seed said.

“(But) I didn’t start quite well — I think he really started well.”

Nishikori, who reached the final of the US Open in 2014, was below his best in his first match of the season, particularly during the opening set.

His serve was initially poor but it improved as the match progressed and he faced only one break point in the second set.

“I think I served really well today. That’s also improving, so I’m very happy for that,” he said.

Nishikori also found his range with his groundstrokes and was able to force errors from his opponent from Kazakhstan.

“He was playing aggressive, great backhand, and I tried it mix up,” Nishikori said.

It was Nishikori’s fourth straight win over Kukushkin and ensured he has reached at least the quarterfinal stage in Brisbane for the fourth time in five years.

Big-serving Croatian Marin Cilic, who beat Nishikori to win the 2014 US Open, downed rising Korean star Chung Hyeon in two tight sets 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). Eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Denis Kudla.

In a women’s draw, ourth-seeded Angelique Kerber and fellow German Andrea Petkovic advanced to the quarterfinals with straight sets wins.

Kerber beat Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-0 to set up a meeting with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while Petkovic had a 7-5, 6-4 win over Ekaterina Makarova to move into a quarterfinal against Samantha Crawford, who had an upset 7-5, 7-5 win over Belinda Bencic. In another match, Victoria Azarenka beat Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3, 6-2.