Serena Williams eases into Rome International final

World number one Serena Williams recorded a 6-3 6-0 victory over Simona Halep this afternoon to reach the final of the Rome International.

Twenty-one-year-old Halep struggled to contend with Williams's first serve from the outset and when she was broken early on during the first set, the experienced American took control.

She eventually took the set 6-3, before going on to record a bagel in the second set as Romanian Halep committed a string of unforced errors.

Williams will now face either Victoria Azarenka or Sara Errani in tomorrow's final in the Italian capital.

Should she emerge victorious from that encounter, it will be the 51st WTA title of her career.