ROME (Reuters) - French Open champion and home favourite Francesca Schiavone lost in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Friday as Samantha Stosur gained revenge for defeat in last year's Roland Garros final.
Second seed Schiavone had no answer to the Australian's powerful game as she lost 6-2 6-4 to the disappointment of the fans inside the Foro Italico.
At one set down and 3-3 there were signs that Schiavone was beginning to find some inspiration but there was to be no repeat of her fightback against Daniela Hantuchova in the third round as sixth seed Stosur broke in the ninth game.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki reached the semi-finals in Rome for the first time as she battled past Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-3 1-6 6-3.
Wozniacki survived a mighty scrap against the twice former champion to set up a semi-final against either Maria Sharapova or in-form Victoria Azarenka.
Stosur will play Australian Open runner-up Li Na who demolished Hungary's Greta Arn for the loss of three games.
"Jelena's a great competitor and has had good results here," Dane Wozniacki told reporters. "It's very tough every time I play her and we have long matches with lots of rallies and not too many free points."
The 20-year-old, who is yet to win a grand slam tournament, said she is beginning to find her feet on clay.
"I'm getting more and more comfortable on the clay," she said. "You like to win quickly and comfortably, but as long as you win it doesn't matter if it takes one or four hours."
After a cautious start Wozniacki broke in the fifth game of the first set before going on to clinch the set in solid style.
Jankovic, a finalist in three of the past four years, clawed her way back with some flashing returns to take a 3-0 before breaking serve twice more to level the match.
When the Serbian recovered from 0-40 to take the sixth game and level the decider at 3-3 it seemed Wozniacki might rue the missed opportunity.
However, with some aggressive tennis which she is often accused of lacking she reeled off the last three games.
Second seed Schiavone had no answer to the Australian's powerful game as she lost 6-2 6-4 to the disappointment of the fans inside the Foro Italico.
At one set down and 3-3 there were signs that Schiavone was beginning to find some inspiration but there was to be no repeat of her fightback against Daniela Hantuchova in the third round as sixth seed Stosur broke in the ninth game.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki reached the semi-finals in Rome for the first time as she battled past Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-3 1-6 6-3.
Wozniacki survived a mighty scrap against the twice former champion to set up a semi-final against either Maria Sharapova or in-form Victoria Azarenka.
Stosur will play Australian Open runner-up Li Na who demolished Hungary's Greta Arn for the loss of three games.
"Jelena's a great competitor and has had good results here," Dane Wozniacki told reporters. "It's very tough every time I play her and we have long matches with lots of rallies and not too many free points."
The 20-year-old, who is yet to win a grand slam tournament, said she is beginning to find her feet on clay.
"I'm getting more and more comfortable on the clay," she said. "You like to win quickly and comfortably, but as long as you win it doesn't matter if it takes one or four hours."
After a cautious start Wozniacki broke in the fifth game of the first set before going on to clinch the set in solid style.
Jankovic, a finalist in three of the past four years, clawed her way back with some flashing returns to take a 3-0 before breaking serve twice more to level the match.
When the Serbian recovered from 0-40 to take the sixth game and level the decider at 3-3 it seemed Wozniacki might rue the missed opportunity.
However, with some aggressive tennis which she is often accused of lacking she reeled off the last three games.
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