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ROME - Serena Williams withdrew from her quarter-final match at the Italian Open yesterday due to a back problem, and older sister Venus Williams was beaten by defending champion Jelena Jankovic.

Jankovic will next play second-seeded Maria Sharapova, who rallied past 2005 runner-up Patty Schnyder 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-2 to gain the semifinal with her 300th career win. Sharapova will become No. 1 in the rankings Monday, courtesy of Justine Henin's retirement.

Serena Williams' back froze suddenly while she was warming up on a practice court for her tennis match with French qualifier Alize Cornet.

"It just happened all of a sudden in practice," Williams said before heading to a hospital for tests. "I just went for a shot and then my back got a little stuck."

Williams did not appear in much pain, carrying a large pocketbook over her left shoulder as she entered a news conference immediately after her withdrawal.

"I didn't feel anything the last match, and I don't expect this to cause any problems with my preparation for the French," she said.

"It just happened all of a sudden. I feel like I'm going to be good going into Roland Garros."

This tournament is an important clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 25.

Sharapova improved to 7-1 in her career against Schnyder, a Swiss lefty.