TOKYO -- Top-seeded Rainer Schuettler of Germany beat unseeded Cyril Saulnier of France 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to advance to the finals of the Japan Open.

Schuettler will face second-seeded Sebastien Grosjean of France, who beat third-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In the women's semifinals, Russia's Maria Sharapova advanced to her first WTA singles final, where she will meet unseeded Aniko Kapros of Hungary, another first-time finalist.

Sharapova, seeded fifth, beat unseeded Zheng Jie of China 6-3, 7-5. Kapros defeated Spain's Arantxa Parra 6-1, 6-2.

Schuettler, who has seven semifinal appearances in 2003, will be trying to win his first title of the year Sunday. He lost the Australian Open final in straight sets to Andre Agassi in January.

Schuettler, ranked eighth in the world, and Grosjean, ranked 10th, are trying to qualify for the lucrative season-ending Masters Cup in Houston, which features the top eight players in the world rankings.

Sharapova was back on the court later Saturday, teaming with Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn to win the doubles championship. Sharapova and Tanasugarn beat Americans Ansley Cargill and Ashley Harkleroad 7-6 (1), 6-0.