Sabalenka breezes past Ostapenko, advancing to the Italian Open semi-finals alongside Collins

Aryna Sabalenka, world number two, easily defeated Latvian ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 to advance to the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday, where she will face American 13th seed Danielle Collins.

Sabalenka has never won the Italian Open, but she received the majority of the support at Centre Court, where the crowd rose to congratulate the Belarusian, who won in just over an hour.

"With this amazing atmosphere, this amazing support, that's why I'm super-motivated here," Sabalenka said.

"This is the dream tournament for me to win because of these emotions I'm getting from you guys and hopefully I give it back to you, I love you Rome."

Ostapenko saved two break points in the first game, but Sabalenka broke on the next two opportunities to go up 4-1, and despite holding her next service game to love, the Latvian was unable to stop Sabalenka's march.

Sabalenka needed only one break of serve to gain control of the second set 4-3, with Ostapenko failing to force a single break point throughout the match.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, will face Collins for a spot in the final on Thursday, after the American defeated Belarusian 24th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-4 6-3 in Wednesday's other quarterfinal.

Former number one Azarenka broke serve in the first game, but Collins rallied to take a 5-2 lead.

Momentum briefly shifted in Azarenka's favour, but the American won an intense first set and raced to a 4-1 lead in the second before reaching her first Rome semifinal.

She has now won 19 out of her last 20 matches. Sabalenka was the only player to defeat Collins during that run, in three sets in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.

Collins, who plans to retire at the end of the season, won championships in Miami and Charleston earlier this year.

Iga Swiatek will face American third seed Coco Gauff in the other semi-final.

SportsLigue