Sabalenka cruises through to Italian Open semis

World number two Aryna Sabalenka cruised through to the semi-finals of the Italian Open with victory over ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko.

The Belarusian needed just one hour and 13 minutes to dispatch Latvian Ostapenko 6-2 6-4.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will face compatriot Victoria Azarenka or American 13th seed Danielle Collins in the last four in Rome.

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She could then face world number one Iga Swiatek in the final who takes on world number three Coco Gauff in the other semi-final, making it the first time the top three women’s players in the world have reached the semi-finals of a WTA event of 250 level or higher since the 2013 French Open.