RIO DE JANEIRO -- Defending champion Cameron Norrie beat Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Rio Open.
The second-seeded British player will take on Argentina's Mariano Navone on Saturday. Navone overcame Brazil's 17-year-old sensation João Fonseca 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The 23rd-ranked Norrie became the favorite to win the clay-court tournament again after Carlos Alcaraz retired with a right ankle injury and Stan Wawrinka and Nicolás Jarry were defeated.
Norrie said he was excited playing against the crowd who saw him win the tournament last year in a hard-fought final against Alcaraz.
"This was a very fun match, and the public certainly had a great part in that," Norrie said. "These are the matches you want to play -- at night, with the public cheering for you or against you."
Two players from Argentina won their quarterfinal matches earlier Friday and will face off for a place in the final.
Fourth-seeded Francisco Cerundolo beat Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. His semifinal rival will be Sebastian Baez, who beat Brazil's Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.