Sharapova beats Li to make China Open final

BEIJING: World number two Maria Sharapova overcame home favourite Li Na in straight sets on Saturday to make the final of the China Open, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga triumphed in the last four of the men's draw.
The 25-year-old Russian defeated Li, Asia's only Grand Slam winner, 6-4, 6-0, to reach the final for the first time in five attempts, but it took the French Open champion a while to break into her stride.
Li sped to an early 3-1 lead due to some poor serving by Sharapova, including three consecutive double faults in one game, but the Russian fought back, winning three games in a row before taking the set with a break.
Sharapova will play world number one Victoria Azarenka in the final after the Belarusian beat ninth seed Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-2.