Defending champ advances in Santiago

SANTIAGO, Chile, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Defending champion Thomaz Bellucci earned a spot in the quarterfinals of the Movistar Open Wednesday by downing Rui Machado 7-5, 1-6, 6-1.

Bellucci, seeded third, reached the quarterfinals in an ATP Tour event for the second time this season. He is coming off a five-set loss to Jan Hernych in the second round of the Australian Open and will meet Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals.

Fognini rallied to defeat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Sixth-seeded Tommy Robredo advanced, disposing of Ricardo Mello 6-0, 7-6 (9-7). Robredo's quarterfinal opponent will be Maximo Gonzalez, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over Joao Souza.

Gonzalez surprised second-seeded Juan Monaco in the first round.

In the other half of the draw, No. 1 seed David Nalbandian will face Horacio Zeballos in a second-round match Thursday.