In-form Fognini topples Bellucci in Kitzbuhel

Fabio Fognini stayed on course for back-to-back titles by breezing past Thomaz Bellucci to set up a Generali Open semi-final against former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Fognini won his first tournament of the year in Gstaad last weekend and the in-form Italian has maintained his momentum in Kitzbuhel.

The Sanremo-born second seed took only 65 minutes to dump the Brazilian out, winning 6-3 6-1 on the clay in the picturesque Tyrolean Alps.

Fognini, the only seed remaining in the tournament, broke Bellucci seven times and will take on local resident Kohlschreiber in the last four.

Kohlschreiber, a semi-finalist on home soil in Hamburg last week, got the better of last year's semi-finalist Dusan Lajovic 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5).

World number 47 Kohlschreiber saved six break points and came back from 3-1 down in the decisive tie-break to advance.

Wildcard Sebastian Ofner reached his first ATP World Tour semi-final in his homeland, seeing off Renzo Olivo 6-3 1-6 6-3.

The 21-year-old outsider will take on Joao Sousa rather than compatriot Gerald Melzer, who was beaten 2-6 6-1 6-3.