Thiem extends winning streak with win over Fognini in Madrid

Barcelona champion Dominic Thiem extended his winning streak by posting a 6-4, 7-5 win against Fabio Fognini on Thursday to move into the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open.

The two players were coming off big wins, having both beaten 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal on his favorite surface in the last month—Fognini did it in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo on his way to the trophy win, while Thiem triumphed over the Spaniard in Barcelona.

Next up for the No. 5 seed is No. 4-seeded Roger Federer, who battled past Gael Monfils, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (3). The Swiss is playing his first clay-court tournament since losing to Thiem in the 2016 Rome Masters 1000. The 25-year-old Austrian also beat Federer in the Indian Wells final in March. He leads Federer 3-2 in their head-to-head series.