Serena to face Kuznetsova

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Serena Williams will take on US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final of the China Open after the pair eased through their semi-finals.

Kuznetsova beat fellow Russian Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 and is now one victory from her third straight title, having won in Bali last week.

Top seed Williams powered past another Russian, Vera Zvonareva, 6-2 6-3 in Saturday's second semi.

Williams and Kuznetsova have met once, the American winning in Rome in May.

"I think I played a decent match," said Williams. "I didn't want to lose serve today and I did, twice. I was a little disappointed with that.

"But I never really lost focus. I never really thought I'd go down tonight,"

World number five Kuznetsova has now won 13 consecutive matches and was in superb form against Sharapova.

"When I had my chances, I used them," said Kuznetsova. "Going in, I expected it to be tight. I was determined not to give her any balls to hit."

Sharapova won the opening two games but from then on was simply overpowered, and later admitted she has plenty more to learn despite her Wimbledon success.

"She was hitting freely," said Sharapova. "Any part of the court, she had a hard deep shot.

"When somebody plays with so much confidence, there's not much you can do.

"Even though I won Wimbledon, there's a lot of things I have to work on. I'm only 17 and I have a lot of years ahead of me."