No. 3 Maria Sharapova is closing in on her third career title in Rome and second of 2015 after beating fellow Russian Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday.
It was Sharapova's toughest test of the tournament so far, as the 20-year-old Gavrilova impressed many by reaching the semis after entering the tournament as a qualifier. She beat Sharapova earlier this year in Miami.
Sharapova will enter the final as the favorite, but will face a stiff test in No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro, who has beat three consecutive top-six players heading into Sunday.
Suarez Navarro came back from down a set to upset No. 2 Simona Halep 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday. She beat No. 6 Eugenie Bouchard in a marathon third-round match before dismantling No. 4 Petra Kvitova in straight sets in the quarters.
This Internazionali BNL d'Italia is used by most players as a final tune-up before the French Open.
