Flavia Pennetta clinically took her chances to defeat Ioana Raluca Olaru 7-5 6-2 and book a semi-final place at the Generali Ladies tournament.
A closely-fought encounter was decided on Pennetta's ability to convert her break-point opportunities when they came along.
Pennetta converted five of her seven chances to tie up victory in one hour and 33 minutes. In contrast her 20-year-old Romanian opponent wasted five of seven break chances.
Pennetta will meet th! ird seed Yanina Wickmayer in the last four after the Belgian defeated Sara Errani 7-5 6-3.
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, the second seed, won through to her third consecutive WTA Tour semi-final with a 6-3 7-6 (11/9) victory over Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova.
Radwanska will meet another Czech in the last four after Petra Kvitova upset fourth seed Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5 6-4.
