• Rome Open

Wozniacki digs deep to see off Jankovic, Azarenka ousted

Caroline Wozniacki showed her fighting spirit against Jelena Jankovic © PA Photos

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Rome Open seedings

World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki demonstrated her fighting qualities with a 6-3 1-6 6-3 win over Jelena Jankovic in the quarter finals of the Rome Open.

Wozniacki has won a string of titles, 15 in total, but a grand slam has so far proved elusive. She is preparing for the French Open which gets underway in a little over a week and she was given a severe workout by Jankovic.

The Dane made a solid start, as she did not offer up a break point and two breaks of serve were enough to secure the opening set.

The momentum shifted in the second, as Jankovic found her best form from the back of the court. In a role reversal, it was Wozniacki's serve that faltered and Jankovic broke on three occasions to level the match.

Jankovic was troubled by a back complaint against Anabel Medina Garrigues earlier in the week and whether there was a reoccurrence is not clear, but she faltered badly in the third set. Unforced errors flew off her racket, 45 in all in the match, and the set was summed up in the final point as Jankovic worked an opening only to net a forehand with the court open to hand Wozniacki a place in the semi-finals.

She will now play Maria Sharapova, who was handed a place in the semis when Victoria Azarenka retired at 6-4 0-3.

Meanwhile, Sam Stosur gained revenge for her defeat in last year's French Open final by defeating Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-4 in 77 minutes. The defeat means that Schiavone has still not reached a semi-final all season, leaving her a long-shot to defend the Roland Garros crown.

Stosur's power advantage, particularly on the serve, proved the difference between the players - the Australian won 17 points out of 21 contested on the second delivery, meaning Schiavone was unable to create any opportunities to break. In contrast, Stosur snatched three games against the serve, taking her into the last four.

Also into the last four is Li Na, who ended the fine run of Greta Arn with a comfortable 6-3 6-1 win.

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