869001 280 preview?ITEM ENT ID869001&ampITEM VERSION1&ampCOLLSPEC ENT ID10&ampFILE SERVICE CONF ID280 - Djokovic Sets Tsonga Final At China Open
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic will compete for the China Open title after coming through their respective semi-finals on Saturday.
World number two Djokovic coasted through after needing just two sets to see off Florian Mayer 6-1 6-4, while Feliciano Lopez retired hurt halfway through the second set against Tsonga, where he was trailing 6-1 4-1.
"He's been playing really well," Djokovic said about Tsonga on the ATP website.
"There's no secrets between each other, between us. I mean, we played many times, played a lot of important matches on the big stage.
"He's a very powerful player, big serve, big forehand, and if that works he can win against anybody on any surface, to be honest.
"So there is no clear favourite, I think, in tomorrow's [Sunday's] match. We have both been winning quite comfortably. It's going to be a good final hopefully for the tournament."
Tsonga is confident heading into the final and is hopeful of claiming his 10th tour title.
"I played really well," said Tsonga. "I felt really good on the court.
"I'm just happy today [Saturday] with my game. I'm sure I will play good tennis in the final."
The women's final will be contested by the two top seeds after Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova - the world number one and two - cruised through on Saturday.
Second seed Sharapova first crushed home favourite Li Na, the seventh seed out of sorts as the Russian triumphed 6-4 6-0 in one hour 42 minutes.
"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," Sharapova told the WTA website.
"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 keep going.
"Li Na has so much experience. She's a grand slam champion. You know it's going to be difficult, and she can play high level tennis and come back. So it's important to keep a high level as long as you can when you play against her."
Belarus' Azarenka also enjoyed a smooth passage, beating ninth seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-4 6-2 in one hour 35 minutes.