Russian Maria Sharapova stunned world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki with a straight-set victory in the semifinals at the $2.05 million Internazionali d’Italia tennis event.

A seventh-seeded Sharapova advanced to her second WTA singles final of the year with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph over the 20-year-old Dane on the red clay at Foro Italico. The former top-ranked star earned seven service breaks in a match that last just under 1 hour, 50 minutes.

Sharapova lost to Victoria Azarenka at Miami to drop her record in title matches to 22-12.

In Sunday’s championship match, Sharapova will face Samantha Stosur after the sixth-seeded Aussie bested Australian Open runner-up Li Na 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 to reach her first final of 2011.

The 27-year-old Stosur has won just two titles and was a runner-up to Francesca Schiavone at last year’s French Open.

Li, seeded fourth this week, was aiming to reach her third final of the year. She defeated Kim Clijsters to capture her fourth career WTA singles title in Sydney before Clijsters returned the favor with a three-set win at this year’s first Grand Slam.

Sharapova is 7-0 lifetime against Stosur.

The 2011 Rome titlist will collect $360,000.

 

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