Jarmila Gajdasova retires to send Maria Sharapova through at Italian Open

Maria Sharapova progressed to the third round of the Italian Open this lunchtime as opponent Jarmila Gajdosova retired midway through the second set.

Third seed Sharapova was already a set in front when Australian Gajdosova called it a day after being broken to love in the fourth game of the second.

The Russian won the opener 6-2 without offering the world number 52 a single break point, using her powerful strokes to dominate the encounter.

Sharapova, a two-time champion in Rome, could next face 15th seed Madison Keys in the last 16.