Daria Gavrilova boots Christina McHale out to reach semi-finals of Italian Open

Daria Gavrilova has stunned Christina McHale to claim a place in the semi-finals of the Italian Open with a 6-2 6-4 victory.

The American, who was gifted a place in the quarter-finals after Serena Williams dropped out, lost her opening service game.

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McHale came close to breaking back, but Gavrilova stayed composed as she broke one more time to seal a relatively comfortable one-set lead.

McHale tried to launch a comeback in the second set and earned her first break point of the match, but Gavrilova kept calm on the clay court to snatch a double break.

The American tried to cause an upset late on, but her opponent managed to hold out and wrap up the contest.

Gavrilova will face Maria Sharapova or Victoria Azarenka in the semi-final.