
For Maria Sharapova, Rome has become a home away from home. The world number two has won nine consecutive matches in the Italian capital and will look to defend her 2011 Internazionali BNL d'Italia title when she takes on Li Na in Sunday's final. The Chinese is a nearly impressive 7-1 at the Italian Open, since the beginning of last year's tourney, including a semifinal run in that edition. While both Sharapova and Li are enjoying success on the Roman clay, with neither dropping a set thus far this week, only the Russian has really earned her journey to the final. She defeated dangerous youngster Christina McHale in the second round, a resurgent 15th-ranked Ana Ivanovic in the third, the ageless wonder Venus Williams in the quarters, and Angelique Kerber in the semifinals. Kerber will make her top-ten debut when the new ladies rankings come out on Monday. That is not an easy path to the final, yet Sharapova handled it with ease. Li, meanwhile, also received a first round bye, but was handed a gift with an upset-riddled half of the draw. A half that included top-seed Victoria Azarenka, third-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska, and ninth-seed Serena Williams was turned on its head. Azarenka withdrew due to a shoulder injury and Serena called it quits with a lower back injury. Radwanska was upset in her opening match, to Petra Cetkovska. Li was set to square off with Serena in Saturday's semifinal before the American withdrew. Instead, Li's week in Rome included 50th-ranked Chanelle <b>...</b>
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