The world's two top female players, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, will battle it out for the number one ranking when they meet in the Madrid Open final on Sunday after both came through Saturday's semi-finals in straight sets. Current number one Williams sealed her place in the final in the Spanish capital for the second consecutive year as she overcame seventh seed Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sharapova will compete in her first Madrid final after beating Serbian Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-3.

Madrid, May 10 (EFE).- American Serena Williams eked out a 6-3, 0-6, 7-5 victory Friday afternoon over Anabel Medina Garrigues to advance to the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open. The 61st-ranked Medina Garrigues was twice within two points of the biggest win of her career, but the world No. 1 and defending champion of this event came alive in the biggest moments to secure the victory.

Maria Sharapova joked about her rumoured relationship with fellow tennis player Grigor Dimitrov after progressing to the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on Friday. The two were pictured kissing in the Spanish capital on Wednesday, the day after Dimitrov sealed the biggest win of his career against world number one Novak Djokovic. The Bulgarian said after that match that he had been inspired by a "few words" from his girlfriend that he would "remember definitely for the rest of my life".

Maria Sharapova survived a sticky start to move into the second round of the WTA Madrid Open on Monday with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania. The Russian, who won the French Open on clay last year, brought a 16-match winning streak on the surface into Madrid and was strongly favoured to coast past a player who has been dogged by knee injuries. But she struggled at times in the first set before finding her range in the second. It had all been about adjusting to the dirt surface and the particular demands of playing in Madrid, Sharapova said.