Tomas Berdych goes for his first ATP title in two years when he takes on Marin Cilic in Sunday's China Open final.
Berdych's last tour title came back in May 2009 and the Czech will be looking to end the drought as well as giving his ATP World Finals chances a serious boost. He defeated close rival and top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the semis, breaking the Frenchman to go 3-1 up in the final set and never looked back.
If he can defeat Cilic today he will overtake Tsonga and move up to seventh in the Race. "This match [tomorrow] could really change my season from good season to really good season," he said. "So that's just the one thing I'm looking forward for tomorrow. That's it."
23 year old Cilic's title drought isn't as long as Berdych's but you still have to go back in February 2010 to find the last time he triumphed on the tour. He's come close a couple of times in 2011, finishing runner-up in Marseille and Umag.
He fired 11 aces to get past compatriot and doubles partner Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-3 in the semis. Cilic has good memories from Beijing having reached the final two years ago, losing to Novak Djokovic.
Berdych leads 2-1 on the head-to-head but Cilic won their most recent encounter 6-3, 6-4 in Marseille earlier this year.
Prediction: Berdych in two.
