Maria on song in Rome

Cape Town - Russia's Maria Sharapova, the last winner of the women's title in the past five years still in contention in Rome, boosted her chances of a third title but first since 2012 by cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Sharapova, the number three seed, will now meet Daria Gavrilova, who beat fellow-qualifier Christina McHale 6-2, 6-4, in the semi-finals.

In the other semi-final Spanish 10th seed Carla Suarez, who stunned the fourth seed Petra Kvitova 6-3. 6-2, will meet the second seed Simona Halep after she swept past fellow Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru, a qualifier, 6-1, 6-0.

Defending champion Serena Williams pulled out of the competition on Thursday citing a sore right elbow.