Defending champion Thiem knocked out of Rio Open

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Austria's defending champion Dominic Thiem was eliminated from the Rio Open on Friday, stumbling in the quarterfinals to Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

Thiem, who won the Argentina Open last week, lost 6-4, 6-0 in the ATP 500 clay-court event at the Jockey Club Brasileiro.

World No. 40 Verdasco will face Italian fifth seed Fabio Fognini - who defeated Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals.

Earlier, Argentine sixth seed Diego Schwartzman beat Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4.

The world No. 23 set up a semifinal clash against Nicolas Jarry of Chile, who overcame Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 6-3.