No.1 meets No.2 in Beijing final

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Azarenka sets up China Open showdown with Sharapova as Tsonga wins men’s semis

GOOD GAME: Sharapova (right) shakes hands with Li after their semi-final women’s singles match in Beijing. — Reuters photo

BEIJING: World number one Victoria Azarenka set up a final date with Maria Sharapova at the China Open after the top two seeds enjoyed comprehensive victories in their semi-finals yesterday.

Sharapova blew away home favourite Li Na 6-4 6-0 before top seed Azarenka saw off the challenge from France’s Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-2.

Sharapova served three double faults to concede an early break to go 1-3 down in the first set against the Chinese number one Li but sailed through once she found her groove.

“It was a really high quality first set with a few ups and downs, and obviously she had the lead in that set, but I came back,” the Russian told reporters.

“There were a few key moments to that set and after I broke her in the last game, it was important to take that momentum into the second set and kee p going.”

Sharapova, who lost in the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last week, was happy to be back in contention.

“I came into this tournament not playing extremely well in Tokyo, and I had a couple of days of practice here,” she said.

“So I was hoping from the first round I’d really step it up and get better and I feel as the tournament has gone on I’ve been playing and moving better.”

Belarussian Azarenka, who withdrew before her quarter-final in Tokyo due to health issues, showed no signs of trouble as she powered past Bartoli.

Azarenka last won a title in March when she beat Sharapova in Indian Wells while the Russian is seeking her first trophy since winning the French Open in June.

In the men’s draw third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France marched into the final when Spain’s Feliciano Lopez retired during the second set of their match.

The world number seven thrashed Lopez 6-1 in the first set and was 4-1 up in the second when the left-handed Spaniard called it a day, citing an injury to his left wrist.

“I played really well and I felt really good on the court,” Tsonga said.

“I didn’t know before he was a bit injured. I’m just happy today with my game.”

The Frenchman has enjoyed an easy progression to the final of the Beijing tournament since needing three sets to overcome Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin in the first round.

The 27-year-old received a walkover in the second round after Nikolay Davydenko withdrew and beat Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets in the third.

“During this week my level has got better and better,” Tsonga said.

“I have played maybe some of my best tennis here.

“I haven’t played like this in couple of months and maybe a couple of years now and that’s why I think I can win the final tomorrow.”

Serbia’s world number two and top seed Novak Djokovic meets Germany’s Florian Mayer in the second semi-final. — AFP