BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Defending champion Rafael Nadal has reached the semifinals of the Argentina Open with a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory over Paolo Lorenzi of Italy on clay in the Argentine capital.

It followed Nadal's defeat of Juan Monaco on Thursday.

The Spaniard and former world No. 1 will get a tough test on Saturday against Dominic Thiem, a 22-year-old Austrian and one of the game's rising stars.

Thiem defeated Dusan Lajovic of Serbia on Friday 6-4, 6-2.

In late matches Friday, Nicolas Almagro of Spain faced No. 3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, and No. 2 David Ferrer of Spain was against No. 8 Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.