Maria Sharapova Stuns No. 1 Wozniacki In Rome Semis

The seventh-seeded Sharapova edged an enthralling first set but looked to be fading as the world number one Dane hit back to lead 3-1 in the second set. Maria Sharapova will meet Australian Samantha Stosur in the Italian Open final after beating world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

"It's the first time I'm playing her on clay and her best results have been on clay," Sharapova said. The second semi-final between Wozniacki and Sharapova was the contest of the day though. In Sunday's championship match, Sharapova will face Samantha Stosur after the sixth-seeded Aussie bested Australian Open runner-up Li Na 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 to reach her first final of 2011.

In the quarter-final, Sharapova lost the first set 4-6 Friday but had taken a 3-0 lead in the second over No. 3-seeded Victoria Azarenka when the Belarusian retired. While Caroline Wozniacki had defeated former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in the quarter-finals on Friday in three sets with a 6-3, 1-6 and 6-3 on the clay court in Rome.

Maria Sharapova of Russia made into semi-finals of the 2011 International BNL d Italia WTA Tournament, after world No. 3 ranked Victoria Azarenka retired from the match, due to elbow injury.
Sharapova and Wozniacki have split their previous four meetings, with Wozniacki taking the last two. Wozniacki won a 6-1, 6-2 decision this year in California.