Sat May 17 10:51:07 2008

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Sharapova pulls out of Italian Open semis with calf injury

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Rome, Italy (Sports Network) - Second-seeded Maria Sharapova withdrew from Saturday's semifinals of the $1.34 million Italian Open with a left calf strain, awarding defending champion Jelena Jankovic a spot in the final via walkover.

Sharapova, who is poised to move to No. 1 in the world rankings on Monday due to the retirement of Justine Henin, is the second top-tier player to withdraw from the clay-court French Open tuneup in as many days. Fifth-seeded Serena Williams pulled out of Friday's quarterfinals due to a back injury.

The Serbian Jankovic captured this event last year by beating Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the finale.

French qualifier Alize Cornet, the beneficiary of Williams' withdrawal, will play sixth-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the other semifinal on Saturday. Chakvetadze will appear in only her second career semifinal on clay when she meets Cornet.

This year's Rome titlist will collect $196,900.