Jankovic, Cornet through to 2008 Rome Open final 

Defending Rome Open champion Jelena Jankovic appears well set to take her second tournament title after advancing through to the final without having to play her semi-final fixture against number two seed and world number one Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova pulled out of her 2008 Rome Open semi-final tie against Jankovic after suffering a calf strain during her quarterfinal win over Patty Schnyder. "I was getting ready to play, to practice and warm up for the match, and they told me she had an injury and couldn't play," Jankovic said after hearing he semi-final fixture had been cancelled. "I wanted to play. I was ready to play, but unfortunately this happens."

Jelena Jankovic will face unseeded French player Alize Cornet in the final of the 2008 Rome Open. Cornet advanced to the final of the tournament by defeating 6th seed Anna Chakvetadze 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

If 18 year old Cornet achieves an upset win the in 2008 Rome Open final, it will be the third top ten scalp she has claimed during the course of the tournament. "It's my second top ten in two days, and why not a third one tomorrow?" said Cornet, currently ranked at 34 in the WTA rankings.