In the neon-lit coliseum of the China Open, where the Beijing night air hums with the tension of high-stakes hard-court warfare, Saturday’s semifinal unfolded like a plot twist from a blockbuster thriller. Amanda Anisimova, the third-seeded American powerhouse riding a wave of career-best form, delivered a surgical dismantling of defending champion Coco Gauff, storming to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 58 blistering minutes. What promised to be a grueling all-American showdown—pitting two of tennis’s most dynamic young stars against each other—turned into a one-woman clinic, as Anisimova’s ferocious groundstrokes and unerring precision left Gauff scrambling in the dust of her own title defense. For Anisimova, now the proud owner of a spot in her first China Open final, this triumph wasn’t just a semifinal scalp; it was a resounding statement in a season that’s already etched her name deeper into the WTA’s elite echelon.
The match, played under the floodlights of the Diamond Court at the National Tennis Center, began with Anisimova asserting dominance from the very first point. Gauff, the world No. 3 and French Open champion, entered Beijing as the tournament’s sentimental favorite, her 2024 crown still gleaming in memory. But on this crisp October evening, the 21-year-old struggled to summon her trademark blend of athleticism and resilience. Anisimova bolted to a 5-0 lead in the opening set, her forehand ripping like a heat-seeking missile, forcing Gauff into errors that echoed across the arena. The underdog avoided a humiliating bagel by clawing back a late break and hold, but it was mere consolation; Anisimova sealed the set with clinical efficiency, dropping just one game to her compatriot’s serve.
The second set mirrored the first’s script, with Anisimova’s serve holding firm at 71.7% effectiveness on hard courts this year—a stat that underscores her transformation from promising talent to top-tier threat. Gauff, who had navigated gritty quarterfinal wins over Eva Lys (6-3, 6-4) after tougher battles against Leylah Fernandez and Belinda Bencic, mounted a fleeting fightback. At 5-0 down, she unleashed a stunning backhand down the line to break Anisimova’s serve, a flicker of the fire that propelled her to 22 WTA 1000 victories in 2025 alone. For a heartbeat, the crowd—packed with flag-waving supporters from both sides of the Atlantic—sensed a shift. But Anisimova, unflappable at 23 and ranked a career-high No. 4, reset and closed out the match on her terms, breaking Gauff five times overall and converting 41.6% of her break-point opportunities, a figure that ranks her among the tour’s most opportunistic returners.
“I was just excited to play here in my first semifinal,” Anisimova beamed in her on-court interview, her voice a mix of exhilaration and humility. “I was able to put on a really good performance, and I knew I was going to have to play very well against Coco if I wanted to get the win, and yeah, I’m really excited to be in the final.” Her words captured the poise of a player who’s weathered storms— from early career burnout and a hiatus in 2023 to a resurgent 2025 that includes Wimbledon semifinals and a US Open final appearance. This Beijing rout marked her third victory over a top-3 opponent this year: She toppled No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Wimbledon’s last four, stunned No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the US Open quarters, and now humbled Gauff in emphatic fashion. No other player on tour has notched such a trifecta against the elite, a feat that catapults Anisimova into rarified air and positions her to potentially overtake Gauff for No. 3 in the WTA Race standings with a title run.
For Gauff, the loss stung like a sudden gust in her sails. Her only prior defeat on Beijing’s main stage came against Swiatek in the 2023 semis, and this one felt eerily similar—a swift, uncharacteristic unraveling against a foe who exploited every lapse. Gauff’s movement, usually a defensive marvel, faltered under Anisimova’s pace, and her serve, a work in progress at 20-8 on hard courts this season, couldn’t stem the tide. Post-match, the Floridian was gracious yet steely, acknowledging the uphill battle: “She played lights-out tennis today. I didn’t give myself enough chances early, and once you’re down against someone like Amanda, it’s tough to climb back.” It’s a rare off-day for Gauff, whose 58% return win rate against second serves had terrorized opponents all tournament, but one that underscores the WTA’s brutal parity—where one player’s peak can eclipse another’s prime in an instant.
This semifinal wasn’t born in a vacuum; it was the culmination of two paths forged in resilience. Anisimova arrived in Beijing battle-hardened, having clawed through three-set marathons in her previous two rounds: a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 comeback against No. 6 Jasmine Paolini in the quarters, mirroring her earlier escape against Karolina Muchova. “There have been a lot of challenges for me the past two weeks,” Anisimova reflected earlier, “and I’ve managed to try and figure my way through them and stay in those matches. I think that’s been really good because the end of the season can get really tiring and tough, so I’m happy with the way I’ve been able to perform here.” Her journey traces back further—to junior days where she and Gauff first crossed swords in the 2017 US Open girls’ final, a clay-court clash Gauff won in Parma four years later. Their Wimbledon meeting three years ago evened the head-to-head at 1-1, but this hard-court premiere belonged unequivocally to Anisimova.
The drama extended beyond the all-American affair. In the day’s second semifinal, Czech rising star Linda Noskova, 20, pulled off her own upset, outlasting No. 4 Jessica Pegula in a three-set epic laced with mental grit. Noskova, who saved match points in a gripping quarterfinal, will now face Anisimova in Sunday’s final (7 a.m. ET)—a clash of unbridled power versus calculated composure, marking Anisimova’s fifth final of 2025 and her second at WTA 1000 level. Victory would not only net her a ninth career title but cement her as the tournament’s new queen, adding another layer to a season that’s seen her evolve from wildcard to world-beater.
Beijing’s upsets ripple outward, injecting fresh intrigue into the tour’s autumn sprint. For Anisimova, this is vindication—a “main-character” moment in a narrative arc that’s blended heartbreak with heroics. Gauff, ever the fighter, departs with lessons etched in chalk dust, her title defense ending not with a whimper but a reminder of the rivals nipping at her heels. As the sun rises on the final, one truth shines clear: In women’s tennis, where prodigies collide and empires shift overnight, Amanda Anisimova isn’t just playing the game—she’s rewriting its rules. The stage is set for her crowning blow; will Beijing bow to the storm?
Leave a Reply