The former No.1 Maria Sharapova has beaten the current World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 at the Rome Masters.

Sharapova had reached the last four of the Rome event on two previous events, beating Wozniacki during her 2008 campaign.

Sharapova is set for the 35th final appearance of her career and owns 22 titles, the last one is from a year ago in Strasbourg the week before theFrench.

She has 3-2 edge in meetings with Wonzniacki after two successive defeats.

The seventh seed will take on last year's French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur in Sunday's final, having lost in four title matches since her 22nd career crown in Strasbourg 12 months ago.