Youzhny reaches Tokyo title match

Youzhny defeated his third straight seeded opponent, knocking off the No. 8 Hewitt 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

That set up a championship meeting Sunday with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seeded second in this event. Tsonga did not face a break point during the entire match in defeating Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3.

Youzhny and Tsonga have met only once, in the 2008 Australian Open, and Tsonga recorded a straight-sets victory in that one.

Both finalists will be seeking their fifth career title.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.