Maria Sharapova reaches Madrid Open final

Maria Sharapova has reached the final of the Madrid Open thanks to a straight-sets victory over Ana Ivanovic.

The Russian world number two will now face world number one and defending champion Serena Williams for the title on Sunday.

Both players exchanged breaks midway through the opening set before Sharapova broke again to close it out 6-4 against the Serb.

The four-time Grand Slam champion found herself 0-2 down early in the second, but she fought back emphatically to break three times and seal the win 6-3 in what was her 500th professional triumph.