Simona Halep has raced through to the semi-finals of the Italian Open with a straight-sets win over Alexandra Dulgheru.

The world number two required just 56 minutes to see off the qualifier by a 6-1 6-0 scoreline.

Halep dominated the contest from the opening point and two breaks of serve were enough for her to ease through the first set as her Romanian compatriot struggled to get into the match.

Dulgheru created five break-point opportunities during the second, but Halep saved all of them before booking her place in the last four.