Rome May 19 (IANS) Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina the Italian Open s defending champion on Saturday defeated Estonia s Anett Kontaveit 6-4 6-3 to advance to the final.
Svitolina world No. 4 took one hour and 14 minutes to beat Kontaveit world No. 26 reports Efe.
The Ukrainian player champion this year in Dubai reached the semifinal after beating Croatia s Petra Martic Russia s Daria Kasatkina and Germany s Angelique Kerber current world No.12 and a former No.1.
Kontaveit s road was full of surprises after her upset victories over the United States Venus Williams world No.9 and Denmark s Caroline Wozniacki world No.2.
In the final Svitolina is to defend her title against the winner of the match between Romania s Simona Halep current world No.1 and Russia s Maria Sharapova a three-time champion on Rome s clay courts.

--IANS tri/vm