\n<\/p>\n
Home favourite Jasmine Paolini recovered from a set down and a 4-0 deficit in the second set to edge past Diana Shnaider and reach the Italian Open semi-finals.<\/b><\/p>\n
The sixth seed claimed a 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-2 victory to become the first Italian woman to reach the last four in Rome since 2014 when her doubles partner, Sara Errani, was beaten by Serena Williams in the final.<\/p>\n
Having won the opening set after a tie-break, Shnaider led 3-0 in the second before rain interrupted play.<\/p>\n
Shnaider held serve to stretch her advantage to 4-0 after play resumed but Paolini, backed by the vociferous home support, won the next six games to level the match.<\/p>\n
Paolini, who cruised to victory in the deciding set, paid testament to Errani for her influential words of encouragement during the rain delay.<\/p>\n
“It was a good thing that it rained for five minutes. I got some coaching from Sara,” Paolini said of Errani, who was watching from the stands.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old will face either two-time Italian Open winner Elina Svitolina or Peyton Stearns in the last four.<\/p>\n
Raffaella Reggi was the last Italian woman to win the tournament in 1985.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n