Maria Sharapova strolls into Italian Open semi-finals

Maria Sharapova negotiated a potential quarter-final banana skin at the Italian Open this evening as she beat Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.

The Russian took an hour-and-a-half to dispatch of the former world number one and book a last-four meeting against young compatriot Daria Gavrilova.

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Sharapova had to save two break points in the opening game and established a 3-1 lead when she broke her opponent for the first time in game four.

While Azarenka responded immediately to put the contest back on serve, a second Sharapova break set her up to win the first set by a 6-3 scoreline.

Two breaks early in the second put the world number three in complete control at 5-1 up, although the Belarusian saved three match points to move to within two games.

It proved to only be a temporary reprieve for Azarenka, though, as five-time Grand Slam winner and French Open champion Sharapova advanced with a 6-3 6-2 win.