TENNIS: Maria Sharapova continues her resurgence ahead of French Open defence by reaching the final of the Italian Open

Maria Sharapova kept her cool under provocation from the crowd to continue her surge back to form and reach Sunday’s final of the Italian Open.

The world No3 was whistled at as she asked the assembly at the Foro Italico to keep quiet during points on her way to a 7-5, 6-3 victory over little-known Daria Gavrilova, a Russian ranked 78 who plans to take Australian citizenship.

Sharapova will now meet Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, who upset world No2 Simona Halep 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Maria Sharapova reached the final of the Italian Open by beating Daria Gavrilova in straight sets on Saturday

Sharapova appears to be hitting form at the right time as she gears up to defend her French Open title

Gavrilova, ranked 78th in the world, was unable to halt her opponent in a 7-5, 6-3 victory forSharapova

The Romanian is perceived as the biggest threat to Serena Williams when the French Open starts in a week’s time but her momentum was disturbed by the Spanish baseliner.

Sharapova is the defending Roland Garros champion and is running into form at the right time, having reached the Madrid semi-finals last week.

She dispatched Victoria Azarenka in straight sets in the quarter-final in Italy.