Sharapova, Tsonga advance to finals in Beijing

BEIJING (AP) - Maria Sharapova advanced to the China Open final on Saturday, beating seventh-seeded Li Na 6-4, 6-0.

The No. 2-seeded Sharapova has won three clay court titles this season, including the French Open.

In the men's draw, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France moved into the final when Feliciano Lopez retired from their semifinal with a left wrist injury.

It took Sharapova 68-minutes to secure the first set. The Russian finally went ahead when Li, serving at 4-5, sailed a forehand long on a second set point in the 10th game.

Li saved the first set point in the opening set with a winning volley smash at 30-40, but made the forehand error two points later to lose her serve and the set.

Sharapova needed only 33 minutes to take the second set, winning 25 of the 34 points played. She will face the winner of the semifinal between top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France in Sunday's final.

Tsonga was leading 6-1, 4-1 when the 30th-ranked Spaniard decided he could no longer continue playing. Lopez had the trainer on court after the conclusion of the first set.

In Sunday's final, Tsonga will play the winner of Saturday's later semifinal between top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia and unseeded Florian Mayer of Germany.

Tsonga is 2-0 in finals this year, winning the Doha and Metz, France, titles.