Thiem sets up Monfils semi-final showdown

Buenos Aires, February 17: Top seed Dominic Thiem will go head-to-head with entertaining Frenchman Gael Monfils in the semi-finals of the Argentina Open.

Thiem earned his second final-four appearance of the season after defeating home favourite Guido Pella in straight sets on Friday.

The Austrian world number six triumphed 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 at the ATP 250 event on clay courts in Buenos Aires.

Pella saved five set points prior to the opening-set tie-break before earning two of his own at 6-4.

This is going to be a semi-final!@ThiemDomi sets a blockbuster clash against @Gael_Monfils @ArgentinaOpen

Read More ➡️ https://t.co/CAbfF6hjGu pic.twitter.com/hrkxBO6M4Y

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) February 17, 2018

However, Thiem was too strong as he set up a mouth-watering showdown with Monfils.

Monfils dug deep to see off Argentina's Leonardo Mayer 6-4 3-6 6-3 on Friday.

The 31-year-old, who lost in the second round of the Australian Open after struggling in sweltering conditions against Novak Djokovic, saved three of five break points to prevail in his quarter-final clash.

Meanwhile, fifth seed Diego Schwartzman was upstaged by Aljaz Bedene 6-4 6-4 and Federico Delbonis trumped Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 7-5.

Source: OPTA