Thiem falls to Verdasco; Nadal, Federer have it easy

Dominic Thiem, one of the favourites to win the French Open this year, lost to Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 at the Italian Open on Thursday

Fernando Verdasco evicted Dominic Thiem in the final warm-up tournament before the French Open. Thiem is considered one of the favourites to win the clay court Grand Slam.

Thiem falls to Verdasco in Rome 540 Austrian Dominic Thiem, the world number four and last year's French Open finalist, was dumped out of the WTA and ATP Italian open second round on Thursday by Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Thiem, the fifth seed, lost 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, in the final warm-up tournament before the French Open on May 26.

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Verdasco will play Russian Karen Khachanov, the 13th seed, later on Thursday for a place in the quarterfinals.

Competitors are doubling up with two games during the day after play on Wednesday was wiped out because of rain.

Rafael Nadal showed no mercy to Frenchman James Chardy as he registered an easy 6-0, 6-1 win. Roger Federer threw out the challenge of Portugal’s Joao Souza 6-4, 6-3 to progress to the quarterfinals.