There will be an Italian in the final of the Auckland tennis Classic after Francesca Schiavone booked a place in Friday's semi-final against compatriot Flavia Pennetta.
Schiavone's power was too much for France's Alize Cornet in the night match, winning 6-2 6-3.
Fourth-seeded Schiavone now faces the top seeded Pennetta, while the third-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer takes on Israeli Shahar Peer in the other semi-final.
