Sharapova out in Rome with calf injury

ROME, May 17 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova missed her scheduled semifinal match at the $1.34 million Italian Open in Rome Saturday because of a strained left calf.

The event's second seed was to face defending champion and fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

"I think it was in the beginning of the second set yesterday, I started to feel it," Sharapova told reporters.

On Friday, the Russian needed nearly three hours to beat No. 9 seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 in a quarterfinal match.

Sharapova joined fifth-seeded Serena Williams (back) on the sidelines in the past two days with an injury.

Jankovic qualified for Sunday's title match in the walkover and will face unseeded Alize Cornet of France, a surprise 3-6 6-4 6-3 winner against sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia.

In the 2007 final, Jankovic beat Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 6-1.

Sunday's Jankovic-Cornet victor will earn a check for $196,900.