BEIJING: World number one Novak Djokovic continued his love affair with the China Open on Saturday, dumping Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4 to storm into his fifth final in Beijing where he has been simply unstoppable.

The 27-year-old Serb took an hour and 37 minutes to down Murray for an impressive 23-0 record in Beijing and meets Czech Tomas Berdych in Sunday’s final.

Third-seeded Berdych won 6-4, 6-1 over Martin Klizan, the qualifier who upset Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

In the women’s section, French Open and Wimbledon champions Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova will battle for the title.

Sharapova overcame eight double-faults, including four as she served for the match, to defeat former number one Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 6-4.

Third seed Kvitova remains on course for a second consecutive women’s title in China after the Czech defeated Samantha Stosur 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in her match.

The world number three appears to have taken to Beijing the form she showed winning the Wuhan Open last Saturday. If she wins, she’ll also leapfrog Simona Halep to move to No. 2 in the rankings.

“I’m quite tired already. A lot of matches in Wuhan and here,” she said. “I’m looking forward to go to Europe. So I’m glad the final match is the last one here, then I can go.”

Looking to add to his four Beijing titles, Djokovic completely outplayed Murray as he looks to finish the year as the number one.

“I’m glad that I’m back in the form that I would like to be in, especially in these courts where I still haven’t lost ever since I played this tournament,” the top seed said.

“Hopefully, I can finish the year in style, similar as I finished last year.”

NISHIKORI RALLIES TO SET UP RAONIC FINAL

TOKYO: Local favourite Kei Nishikori overcame an injury scare to labour past Benjamin Becker and set up a Tokyo Open final clash against Canada’s Milos Raonic, who enjoyed a more routine victory in the other semi on Saturday.

Fourth-seeded Nishikori dropped the first set and needed courtside treatment on a hip injury ahead of the decider before prevailing 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-2) in a duel that lasted an hour and 47 minutes.

Nishikori, who has been dealing with a lower-back injury the past few days, started slowly against Becker and appeared to have trouble with his mobility at the Ariake Colosseum, before turning it on in the second set.

Raonic, seeded third, dominated Gilles Simon of France 6-1, 6-4 to reach his third consecutive final in the capital. The Canadian lost to Nishikori here two years ago and was beaten a year ago by Argentine Juan Martin del Potro. Raonic finished off Simon with 11 aces to bring his total for the season past 900.

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2014