Sharapova to battle Kvitova in Beijing final

Beijing, China (SportsNetwork.com) - French Open champion Maria Sharapova and Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova will meet for the title at the China Open after claiming semifinal victories on Saturday.

The fourth-seeded Sharapova rolled into the title match with a 6-0, 6-4 thumping of Serbia's Ana Ivanovic after the third-seeded Kvitova battled past Australia's Samantha Stosur, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

Sharapova and Ivanovic met for the fourth time this year. The Russian won the first with a three-set triumph in April at the Stuttgart final, but had lost the last two matchups -- a 6-1, 6-4 third-round rout in Rome and a thrilling three-set semifinal at the U.S. Open tune-up in Cincinnati.

There was no denying Sharapova on Saturday. She won the first seven games and broke serve for a 5-4 edge in the second, then won a 10-minute final game to reach her fourth final of 2014.

In addition to the Stuttgart crown, Sharapova also won titles at Madrid and Roland Garros. However, it's been somewhat of a struggle since Paris in early June.

Sharapova lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and suffered third-round exits in Montreal and last week in Wuhan in addition to the semifinal loss to Ivanovic in Cincinnati.

Kvitova has had an up-and-down summer, highlighted by titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open tune-up in New Haven and last week's championship run in Wuhan. She also had early exits in her other three events, including a third-round loss at Flushing Meadows.

On Saturday, Kvitova captured the first set with a break of serve and Stosur won the second with a break in the 12th game. The Australian was likely the fresher of the two after a walkover in the quarterfinals and opened a 2-1 lead in the third, but Kvitova won the last five games.

"It was really up and down," Kvitova said about Saturday's match. "In the second set she was the better player on the court. She played a really amazing second set. I was a little bit worried in the third set, like if she continued playing that way, it could have been a pretty quick one. But I had some chances and I did it. In the end I served well, and that was important."

Stosur had advanced to the semis after U.S. Open champ Serena Williams withdrew from their scheduled quarterfinal on Friday because of a left knee injury. Ivanovic also received a walkover into the semifinals after Simona Halep withdrew Thursday.

Sharapova owns a 5-2 advantage over Kvitova, including four straight wins. The two met once earlier this year, with Sharapova capturing a 7-5, 6-1 win in the Miami quarterfinals.

Kvitova won the lone previous meeting in a final, claiming a 6-3, 6-4 triumph at Wimbledon in 2011 for her first career Grand Slam crown.

Another win for Kvitova on Sunday would vault her past Halep for second in the world rankings.

Sunday's winner will claim a first prize of $918,000.