Dominic Thiem through in Rome as Gilles Simon retires

Dominic Thiem has advanced at the Italian Open after Gilles Simon was forced to retire with an injury during their second-round clash.

The Austrian took the opening set 7-6(5) before moving into a 2-0 lead in the second.

However, the match was finished prematurely when a neck problem caused 12th seed Simon to call it a day.

Thiem will now play eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka with a quarter-final spot at stake.