Djokovic joins Tsonga in China Open final

Beijing - World No.2 Novak Djokovic set up a final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the China Open Saturday, beating Florian Mayer in straight sets.

The Serbian top seed hit seven aces to overcome his German opponent 6-1, 6-4. Djokovic has won all three encounters with France’s Tsonga this season.

Third seed Tsonga progressed to the final when semifinal opponent Feliciano Lopez retired with a wrist injury with the Frenchman leading 6-1, 4-1.

World No.7 Tsonga has been put to the test this week, scraping past Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin after third set tie-breaker in the first round.

“During this week, my level goes better and better. I play one of my best tennis here,” said Tsonga.

“Even if today Feliciano was not in good shape, and even if he has a problem, I played well.”

The right-hander is bidding to win his third ATP World Tour title of the year.

Talking about his final opponent Djokovic, who has defeated him five times in a row since 2011′s Wimbledon semi-finals, Tsonga said, “Novak beat me many times. He is the player who broke my dream. This time I will try to do better.”

The prize fund of the China Open is $2.2 million.