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Lajovic upsets Verdasco to reach Brazil Open quarterfinals

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.

2017 Citi Open Preview

WASHINGTON — The 2017 Citi Open, whose main draw opens Monday at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Northwest D.C., received an unexpected but welcomed boost to its tournament field in mid-July. Less than two weeks before the region’s annual date with the ATP and WTA Tours, top-10 players Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov accepted wild cards into the men’s draw, while world No. 2 Simona Halep and 2015 D.C. champion Sloane Stephens did the same on the women’s side.
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