ROME, Italy – With the gorgeous Roman sunset lighting up the sky, Maria Sharapova dazzled on center court at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Friday night, powering past longtime rival Victoria Azarenka to round out a blockbuster semifinal line-up at the Premier-level clay court event.
No.3-seeded Russian was just too powerful and just too accurate, battling an hour and 32 minutes to get past the unseeded Azarenka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Awaiting Sharapova in the semifinals will be the breakthrough star of the tournament, Daria Gavrilova, who won an all-qualifier, all-WTA Rising Star battle against Christina McHale earlier on, 6-2, 6-4.
The other semifinal will pit Simona Halep against Carla Suárez Navarro, after the No.2-seeded Halep ran off 11 straight games from 1-all to beat Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru in 56 minutes, 6-1, 6-0, and the No.10-seeded Suárez Navarro outclassed No.4-seeded Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-2.
Ante un radiante sol Romano y cielo despejado Maria Sharapova supero a una tradicional y fuerte rival Victoria Azarenka para avanzar a semifinales del torneo Internacional de Italia…
La numero 3 del mundo se mostró poderosa y exacta en su tenis, necesitando de una hora y 33 minutos para imponerse con parciales de 6-2 y 6-4…en semifinales se medira a Daria Gavrilova quien supero a Christina McHale con parciales de 6-2 y 6-4…
La otra semifinal la disputaran Simona Halep y Carla Suarez Navarro, despues que la numero 2, Halep superara a la Rumana Alexandra Dulgheru en 56 minutos 6-1 y 6-0….y la numero 10 Suarez Navarro venciera a Petra Kvitova 6-3 y 6-2.