Top seed Anderson downed Nishikori 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7/4) in a gruelling 2hr 11min semi-final last night and will now play America's Sam Querrey in the final.
Nishikori had been chasing a first ATP Tour victory after returning from a five-month injury layoff.
However the 28-year-old was slow to start, with Anderson racing through the first set to go 1-0 up before Nishikori found his range in the second.
Anderson's reliable service game -- he won 79 percent of his first serve points compared to Nishikoris 60 percent -- was to prove decisive in the third set tie-break.
Earlier, Querrey ended his long wait for a first victory over Frances Adrian Mannarino to book his place in the final.
Second seed Querrey, who had lost all three of his previous meetings with the fourth-seeded Mannarino, came from behind to win 6-7 (5/7) 7-5 6-3 to the delight of the home fans.
World number 12 Querrey, who has not reached an ATP Tour final since the Mexican Open last year, was delighted to have finally notched a win over Mannarino.
"Im so happy to get through that and be in the final. Im really excited.
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