Tokyo - South African tennis star Kevin Anderson reached the quarter-finals of the Japan Open after defeating American Frances Tiafoe on Thursday.

The second-seed was stretched to a deciding set before prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

On Tuesday, Anderson was also taken to three sets by Australia's Matthew Ebden.

Anderson, the current world No 9, will face either eight-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet or Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the last eight.