From the ArcaMax Publishing, Sports Update Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/sports/s-348974-431979
ROME (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova won Friday's last quarterfinal match at
the $1.34 million Italian Open in Rome with a 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 win
over Patty Schnyder.
The second-seeded Sharapova needed nearly three hours to eliminate her
ninth-seeded foe by coming back from a first set tie-breaker loss. She
overpowered Schnyder late in the second to win the match.
Fifth-seeded Serena Williams opted out of her match against unseeded
Alize Cornet of France after sustaining an injury during practice.
"It happened all of a sudden," Williams said. "I went for a shot and
then my back got a little stuck. I tried to wait until the last
possible moment to see if I could play."
Jelena Jankovic, the fourth seed, defeated No. 7 seed Venus Williams,
5-7, 6-2, 6-3, while Russia's Chakvetadze ousted Tsvetana Pironkova of
Bulgaria, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
In Saturday's semifinals, Sharapova plays Jankovic and Chakvetadze
faces Cornet.
Sunday's champion will earn $196,900.