Fifth seed Marat Safin played an impressive big-serving and heavy-hitting match to reach final on Saturday as he ousted Finnish Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 6-4.

In the other semi-final clash, Russian Mikhail Youzhny ended the ambitions of Thailand's sixth seed Paradorn Srichaphan 6-4, 6-4 to advance into the final on Sunday.

"It's good to reach the final and I have no such feeling for a long time. I really hope to win here," said Safin.

"I played with him (Youzhny) two years ago and won that game inthree sets, but now he is a tough player with more experience and got to play well. His performance depends on his confidence of defeating me, which comes from the experience of playing in finals," added the Russian No. 1.

Both Safin and Youzhny, ranked No. 32 in the world, will be hunting for their first tournament win of the year in Sunday's final.

Safin, a former world number one, lifted his last title in November 2002. Now he and his countryman Mikhail Youzhny will be gunning for tournament's title.

Safin has had a lackluster recovery following an injury-plagued2003, falling in the first round of US Open - an event he won in 2000.

After beating Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi on his way to the Australian Open final, Safin was looking to enjoy a successful year, but after reaching the semi-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters Series event, his form tailed off.

Blisters on his hands cost him any chance of success the French Open, when he lost to David Nalbandian in the fourth round. Since then only a quarterfinal appearance in the Masters Series event in Cincinnati offered any sign of his talent.

The big Russian overwhelmed Nieminen here on Saturday with 12 aces and heavy-hitting returns to hold his serves with ease and break his rival twice in game five and seven to close the first set 6-2.

Safin continued his aggressive play in second set to break the third game by keeping Nieminen running a lot down the baseline and wrapped up the final spot against his compatriot Mikhail Youzhny.

Nieminen, left-handed Finnish player, showed continuing form after recovering from a wrist injury which kept him away for much of the spring and early summer.

The China Open women's tournament starts next week and will feature Serena Williams and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and newly crowned US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2004)