Second seed Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance against Dominic Thiem this evening to reach the final of the Rome Masters at the Foro Italico ©Getty Images

Second seed Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance against Dominic Thiem this evening to reach the final of the Rome Masters at the Foro Italico.

The Serb overcame his eighth-seeded Austrian opponent 6-1, 6-0 in just 59 minutes to set up a final and first meeting with Germany's Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic had earlier finished off a rain-delayed quarter-final against Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, wrapping up a 6-1, 6-4 win.

He is through to his first ATP World Tour final since winning his opening tournament of the season in Doha and will be aiming for a fifth title in Italy's capital.

Thiem was unable to replicate his form from yesterday, when he ended Spain's Rafael Nadal's unbeaten streak on clay this season at 17 matches, and will now turn his attention to the French Open which is due to begin on May 28 at Roland Garros in Paris.

Zverev, 20, earned a spot in his first ATP World Tour Masters 1,000 final after overcoming unseeded American John Isner in today's other last-four encounter.

The 16th seed triumphed 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 in just under two hours. 

He becomes the youngest finalist since a 19-year-old Djokovic reached and won the Miami Open title match in 2007.

Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, Zverev will climb to a new career-high in the ATP rankings at number 14.

If he wins, he will rise to number 10.

Romania's Simona Halep is through to the women's final ©Getty Images
Romania's Simona Halep is through to the women's final ©Getty Images

In the women’s competition, number eight seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine moved into the final after Spanish opponent Garbiñe Muguruza was forced to retire in the first set.

Muguruza, the reigning French Open champion, called the trainer when trailing 4-1 and after a lengthy discussion with the doctor had to pull out of the match citing a neck injury.

"I just want to wish a fast recovery to Garbiñe," Svitolina said afterwards.

"She has such a big tournament ahead in Roland Garros, which is very tough as she’s the defending champion.

"It’s going to be very tough for her and hopefully she will recover quickly."

Svitolina will take on Romania's Simona Halep in the final as she bids to take home a WTA Tour-leading fourth title of the year.

Halep, who completed the successful defence of her Madrid Open title last Saturday (May 13), progressed after comfortably overcoming The Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens 7-5, 6-1.

She hit only nine unforced errors throughout the match.