DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Teen qualifier Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach an ATP final since 1992, beating third-seeded Sam Querrey 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7) today in the International Tennis Championships.

Down 6-3 in the third-set tiebreaker, the 18-year-old Nishikori saved four match points before winning on his first chance to close out the match.

"I had confidence," said Nishikori, the first Japanese player to reach a tour final since Shuzo Matsuoka lost to Wayne Ferreira at Queens Club in June 1992. "I'm just so happy, but I got one more tomorrow."

Nishikori will face top-seeded James Blake, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-4 in the second semifinal.

"Whether or not, I'm the heavy favorite, I never go in thinking about that," Blake said. "I don't want to go in and play safe just because he's the underdog."

Matsuoka, who coached Nishikori at times in his youth, is the last Japanese man to win a tour title. He beat Todd Woodbridge in Seoul in April 1992.

"He (Matsuoka) is the only one (player from Japan) to reach the top 50," said the 224th-ranked Nishikori, hoping to have a more successful career. "I want to pass him."

Nishikori has been training at the Nick Bollettieri Academy the past three years on a grant bestowed by Masaaki Morita, the CEO of Sony.