Amada Anisimova thrashes Coco Gauff to advance to China Open final
Amanda Anisimova crushed Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in the China Open semi-final, advancing to her second WTA 1000 final of 2025 after a stunning display.
New Delhi: Coco Gauff's title defence at the 2025 China Open came to a sudden halt as she suffered a crushing 6-1, 6-2 defeat to compatriot Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals on Saturday. The third seed needed just 58 minutes to dismantle the second seed in a dominant display that left the Beijing crowd stunned.
Earlier, Anisimova had already reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals this season and has been at her ruthless best from the very start of the game. She raced to a 5-0 lead in both sets, breaking Gauff's serve at will and dictating the rallies with her aggressive baseline play. Gauff, who looked unsettled throughout, managed to avoid being bageled but had no real answers to Anisimova's precision and power.
The triumph gave Anisimova a 2-1 edge in her head-to-head record against Gauff and booked her place in Sunday's final, where she will face either Jessica Pegula or Linda Noskova. It also marks her second WTA 1000 final of the season, a testament to the consistency she has built in 2025.
Gauff undone by serving struggles
It was a day to forget for the defending champion. Gauff's serve, which has been under scrutiny all season, completely deserted her in the high-stakes clash. Despite landing 64% of her first serves, she could just win 39% of those points and committed five double faults. Her second serve proved equally costly, allowing Anisimova to step in and dominate the return games.
Anisimova broke Gauff in just seven service games as never let her to build momentum. Her frustration was visible as unforced errors piled up, hitting several forehands long and struggling to contain Anisimova's depth. After the loss, Gauff admitted she simply couldn't find her rhythm on the day.
After the match Gauff said, "Honestly, she just played lights out. I felt good going into the match, but she completely took control from the start. It’s disappointing but there’s a lot I can learn from this.”
Anisimova's dream season continues
For Anisimova, the win capped another impressive week in what has been a breakout season. The 24-year-old American is currently ranked World No.4 and has developed into one of the most complete players on tour, blending raw power with growing maturity in her shot selection.
"I felt really good from the first ball,” Anisimova said after the win. "Everything was working today, and the crowd here has been amazing since day one. I’m just really excited to be in another final.”
With two Grand Slam finals already under her belt this year and a WTA 1000 titles from Doha, she will now look to add the Beijing crown to her growing list of achievements when she returns for Sunday's final.