Sharapova Two Wins From No. 1

The second-seeded Mauresmo defeated four-time Rome winner Conchita Martinez 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes. The Frenchwoman converted five of seven break points in her third straight win against Martinez who won titles in Rome from 1993 through 1996.

"She had some opportunities early in the first set," said the third-ranked defending champion. "I was able to break her first and then play some great tennis."

Top seed Sharapova was equally impressive ousting No.9 seed Elena Bovina 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour to advance to her first career clay court semifinal.

"I think working hard physically, which has been my goal in the last year, is paying off," said Sharapova. "It's going to get tougher and tougher as the matches go on, so you have to be really ready for it."

Should she win the title here, Sharapova will become the 15th player and first Russian to ascend to No.1 on the WTA Tour singles rankings. Yikes.

Also on Friday, No.6 seed Vera “Warren” Zvonareva was a 7-5, 7-6(4) winner over Italian hero Francesca Schiavone and No.8 seed Patty “Cake” Schnyder routed unseeded Russian teenager Evgenia Linetskaya 6-1, 6-0.

In the Saturday semifinals, Sharapova faces Schnyder, while Mauresmo takes on Zvonareva. Sharapova and Schnyder have played just once prior to Rome, a tough three-set win for the Russian in the semifinals at the grass court event in Birmingham last year.

"I think she is one of the strongest players on Tour," said Schnyder on the reigning Wimbledon champion. "I will focus on returning her serve and playing good rallies."

Mauresmo and Zvonareva have faced each other six times previously, with Mauresmo coming out the victor on each occasion.

In Saturday's doubles semifinals, No.2 seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber will face No.3 seeds Zvonareva and Elena Likhovtseva, while No.4 seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Meghann Shaughnessy will battle the unseeded pair of Maria Kirilenko and Anabel Medina Garrigues.