Serena gives 'sexy' performance in Rome

If the world No 1 was referring to her tennis, rather than her lovely but not particularly raunchy pink outfit, she was true to her word.

The American produced a display of power and panache to dispatch Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-4 and set up a semi-final meeting with Jelena Jankovic in her first tournament since winning the Australian Open back in January.

Serena, the 2002 Italian Open champion, was in control from the off, rattling the Russian by standing forward on her serve and pouncing on any weak balls to drill home winning returns.

Her own serve was fearsome, zipping down at over 190 kmh on several occasions, and she notched seven aces.

Serena also showed she was in good physical shape, racing to the net to recover drop shots and tip them back for winners, as with the point that clinched the first set. The only blot was that she allowed herself to be broken in the sixth game of the second set.

"My knee is feeling good so far," said Serena afterwards. "I can't believe I'm still in the tournament – it's weird."

It could have been an all-Williams semi-final but Serena's sister, Venus, lost her quarter-final clash against Jankovic.

The 25-year-old Serbian, ranked seventh in the world, barely gave Venus a look-in en route to a stunning 6-0, 6-1 win.

The second semi-final will be between Ana Ivanovic and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, who both upset seeded opponents in Rome yesterday.

Ivanovic, herself a former world No 1, showed signs she could be getting back to her best in a 6-2, 7-5 victory over 14th-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova. "I've been feeling really good on court for a couple of weeks now and I really felt it could happen any week," said the 22-year-old Serbian.

"I just needed to get some more momentum and start playing matches because that is what I have been lacking for so long.

"I am so happy that I came here, because last week it just was not happening. To have these wins here means a lot.

"For a long time I think that this is the best for me, and obviously winning against top players gives you confidence."

Spain's Martinez Sanchez, saw off eighth-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.