ROME, May 18: A week out from the French Open, Serena Williams is only one victory away from winning her fourth consecutive title this year.

The top-ranked American overcame an early break of her serve to ease past Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 Saturday and reach the Rome Masters final, extending her career-best winning run to 23 matches.

Serena is coming off consecutive titles in Miami; Charleston, South Carolina; and Madrid last week.

In Sunday’s final, Serena will face third-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who kept her concentration through two rain delays to beat seventh-seeded Sara Errani 6-0, 7-5.

In Friday’s quarter-finals, Azarenka, held off ninth-seeded Sam Stosur 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

On the men’s side, defending champion Rafa Nadal was stretched to the limit against Spanish compatriot David Ferrer, prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in a 2hr 46min slug-fest.

In the other half of the draw, Roger Federer overcame an early break in the second set to edge rising Polish player Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 7-6 in a night match at the Foro Italico.

Results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Saturday:

Women’s singles:

Semi-finals: 3-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt 7-Sara Errani (Italy) 6-0, 7-5; 1-Serena Williams (US) bt Simona Halep (Romania) 6-3, 6-0. Friday:

Men’s singles: Quarter-finals: 2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) ; 5-Rafa Nadal (Spain) bt 4-David Ferrer (Spain) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Women’s singles: Quarter-final: 3-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt 9-Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.—Agencies