Tennis-Serena Williams goes into last four as Pennetta quits

ROME, May 18 (Reuters) - Serena Williams enjoyed an easy

passage into the semi-finals of the Italian Open tennis on

Friday when her opponent Flavia Pennetta retired with a right

wrist injury.

The Italian, ranked 21, had treatment at 3-0 down and

decided to quit when Williams was leading 4-0 and 40-0.

Williams, who won last week\\'s title in Madrid, will play

either China\\'s Li Na or Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the

last four.

Holder Maria Sharapova was due to play Venus Williams later

on Friday while Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was

scheduled to face Angelique Kerber of Germany.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

REUTERS

1128 180512 GMT