This content was published 6 years ago. It may refer to a past edition of the Internazionali d’Italia.

Simona Halep will bid to take another step closer to the Madrid-Rome double when she takes on Kiki Bertens in the semifinals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Halep, who is on a nine-match winning streak, defeated Bertens in straight sets at Wimbledon last year but the Dutchwoman won their only other meeting which came on clay at Fes in 2012.

By reaching the semifinals Bertens has ensured a top 20 ranking next week and she can improve on her career-best ranking of No. 19 if she reaches the final.

In the other women’s semifinal, Garbine Muguruza will meet Elina Svitolina. The Roland Garros champion has looked to be playing herself into clay court form this week but will be wary of the Ukrainian, a three-time titlist in 2017, who defeated No. 2 seed Karolina Pliskova in straight sets on Friday.

Alexander Zverev and John Isner both produced upsets on Friday at the Foro Italico to reach their first semifinals in Rome. For Zverev it is a maiden Masters-1000 semifinal while for Isner it represents his first appearance in the last four of a Masters-1000 event on clay.

The German, who is bidding to become the youngest Masters-1000 finalist since Djokovic (19) at 2007 Miami, has won both of their previous meetings but they have never played on clay.

Dominic Thiem awaits the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro in the remaining semifinal. Their match was suspended on Friday night due to heavy rain and will resume on Saturday.