Djokovic marches towards fifth China Open title

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The Serb has yet to drop a set at the ATP 500 hard-court event and recorded a sixth win in his last seven meetings with Murray in one hour and 37 minutes on Saturday.

Djokovic's 6-3 6-4 triumph, which sets up a final with Tomas Berdych, ended the recent resurgence of his opponent, who lifted his first title of 2014 in Shenzen last weekend.

"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," said Djokovic.

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

A tight start to the match saw both players hold serve until Murray was broken in the eighth game.

After saving two break points, the world number 11 could not stop the Serb on the third and Djokovic had his opening.

He converted his second set point in the following game before winning the opening two games of the second as Murray's frustrations began to get the better of him.

Murray levelled in the sixth, but Djokovic was not to be denied and broke again before serving out to love to progress to Sunday's final.

He will meet third seed Berdych after the Czech cruised past Martin Klizan 6-4 6-1.

There was nothing between the pair in the opener until Berdych, who had missed three previous break points, took the set by claiming a lengthy 10th game.

Berdych had fewer problems in the second, reeling off the final five games of the match to keep his hopes of a second title in Beijing alive.

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