SAO PAULO (AP) Serbia's Dusan Lajovic defeated seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Brazil Open on Thursday.
Lajovic broke Verdasco's serve at 4-4 in the final set then easily closed out the match in the final game. The 77th-ranked Serb, who did not lose serve throughout the match, will face qualifier Luca Vanni of Italy. Vanni defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3.
Third-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy beat Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, while sixth-seeded Santiago Giraldo of Colombia advanced past Argentine qualifier Carlos Berloc 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Fognini and Giraldo will play in one of the quarterfinals at the clay-court tournament.