Dominic Thiem nearly flawless in reaching Rio Open final on clay

Dominic Thiem defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas to reach the final of the clay-court Rio Open on Saturday.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Dominic Thiem defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final of the clay-court Rio Open on Saturday.

The No. 8-ranked Thiem will face 18-year-old Casper Ruud of Norway or Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the final. They played the late semifinal.

Thiem has won seven ATP singles titles - five on clay - and the Austrian instantly became the favorite when top-seeded Kei Nishikori was beaten in the first round by Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci.

Thiem has not lost a set in four matches in Rio.

If Ruud advances, he would be the youngest to reach an ATP singles final since Nishikori did it nine years ago.