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Sharapova, 31, will play top seed and world
number one Simona Halep in the semis after the Romanian crushed
Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3.
Sharapova produced one of her best performances of the season to
overcome her Latvian opponent in a gripping contest lasting
three hours and 10 minutes.
Fifth seed Ostapenko saved a set point before edging the opener
in a tiebreak but failed to maintain her level in the second as
Sharapova forced a decider.
The Russian missed two match points at 5-3, allowing Ostapenko
to draw level after 10 games, but Sharapova was not to be denied
as she booked a semi-final spot in Rome for the first time in
three years.
"It's great to back at this stage," Sharapova said.
"My fans have been so loyal throughout the years and for me to
be able to produce this kind of tennis again in front of them is
very special."
Estonia's Anett Kontaveit knocked out world number two Caroline
Wozniacki 6-3 6-1 to record her second consecutive win over a
top-10 opponent.
Kontaveit, who overcame Venus Williams in the last 16, struck 23
winners and broke her Danish opponent's serve six times to wrap
up victory in just over an hour.
The world number 26 set up a semi-final battle with defending
champion Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who defeated former world
number one Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
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