Sara Errani beat Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 7-5 to book her place in the final of the Rome Masters and maintain her hopes of becoming the first Italian woman to win the tournament in 29 years.
Errani, seeded 10, claimed her second consecutive semi-final place on Friday when she produced a stunning upset in overcoming China's number two seed Li Na 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Jankovic had accounted for Agnieszka Radwanska, the third seed from Poland, 6-4, 6-4 to claim her last four place.
But the Serbian sixth seed was never in the game against 2012 French Open finalist Errani, who will appear in Sunday's final for the first time in her career.
Errani, 27, was ousted from the semi-finals last year by Victoria Azarenka of Belrarus.
In Sunday's final she will meet either Jankovic's 11th seeded compatriot Ana Ivanovic or defending champion and top seed Serena Williams, who meet in the second semi-final later Saturday.
Raffaella Reggi was the last Italian woman to win the Italian Open in 1985.– AFP