Cape Town - South Africa's Kevin Anderson was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open by France's Richard Gasquet on Friday.
It has been a stellar year for Anderson, who played in the 2018 Wimbledon final, but he came unstuck the No 8 seed Gasquet, going down 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4).
Anderson had entered the tournament as the No 2 seed and would've taken on home favourite Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals had he emerged victorious.
Anderson had reached the quarter-finals of the tournament after defeating American Frances Tiafoe on Thursday.
He was stretched to a deciding set before prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.