Brazil Open: Vanni advances to final, will face Cuevas

Qualifier Luca Vanni of Italy defeated home-crowd favorite Joao Souza 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 at the Brazil Open on Saturday, reaching his first ATP final.

The 149th-ranked Vanni won the final three games to clinch the victory after nearly three hours.

Souza, ranked 110th, was playing the clay-court tournament on a wild card invitation.

Vanni will play the final against fifth-seeded Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, who cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over sixth-seeded Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.

The 32nd-ranked Cuevas will be trying to win his third ATP title.