Thiem breezes past Monfils to set up Bedene showdown

Gael Monfils was no match for Dominic Thiem, who needed only 63 minutes to reach the final in Buenos Aires.

Dominic Thiem will take on Aljaz Bedene in the Argentina Open final after easing to a straight-sets victory over Gael Monfils on Saturday.

Thiem took just 63 minutes to account for Monfils, the top seed winning the semi-final 6-2 6-1 at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

The world number six won his first clay-court event of the season in each of the last two years and that trend could continue after he eased past the enigmatic Frenchman.

Thiem won 85 per cent of points on his first serve and did not face a single break point, while Monfils was unable to hold on four occasions.

Austrian Thiem, winner of this tournament in 2016, will be a strong favourite to claim his ninth ATP World Tour singles title when he takes on Bedene, who beat home favourite Federico Delbonis 6-2 2-6 6-1 in the other semi.

Slovenian Bedene reached his third ATP World Tour showdown after blasting down 15 aces and breaking five times to topple the world number 70.