Rome, Italy, 16 May 2015 | tennis.com.au

Daria Gavrilova has advanced to the semifinals of Rome’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia with a commanding win over fellow qualifier Christina McHale.

Gavrilova defeated the American 6-2 6-4 to advance to her first WTA semifinal, where she will meet No.3 seed Maria Sharapova.

The two have already met once in 2015, with Gavrilova claiming a breakthrough upset victory over Sharapova – then ranked No.2 – in the Miami Open second round.

With her victory over McHale, Gavrilova is projected to move inside the world’s top 50 for the first time on Monday.

Having come through the qualifying draw, Gavrilova has now won six straight matches.

Earlier in the tournament she beat world No.7 Ana Ivanovic in a thrilling, three-hour, three-set epic.