Anisimova Thrashes Gauff to Reach China Open Final

US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova dominated defending champion Coco Gauff in just 58 minutes on Saturday, securing her spot in the final of the China Open for the first time.

The third seed overwhelmed the second-seeded American Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in Beijing. Anisimova will face either fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula or 26th-seeded Linda Noskova from the Czech Republic on Sunday.

“I was able to put on a really good performance,” Anisimova, beaten in the final in New York by Aryna Sabalenka, said afterwards.

“I knew I was gonna have to play really well against Coco if I wanted to get the win and I’m really excited to be in the final.”

Anisimova Thrashes Gauff to Reach China Open Final. Credit USOpen.org

Anisimova swiftly established a 5-0 lead in just 15 minutes as Gauff, playing unusually poorly, hit numerous shots long and into the net.

The 21-year-old reigning French Open champion double-faulted twice, granting Anisimova two set points before Gauff finally managed to get on the scoreboard. However, this rally came far too late to make a difference.

Gauff’s struggles continued in the second set, where Anisimova again jumped to a 5-0 lead. Although Gauff managed to gain back two games, Anisimova confidently closed out the match in under an hour.

Before Saturday, Gauff’s only defeat on Beijing’s central Diamond Court this year had been against Poland’s world number two, Iga Swiatek, also in the semi-finals.

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