Amanda Anisimova crushes defending champion Coco Gauff for China Open final berth

Amanda Anisimova ended Coco Gauff's title defence at the 2025 China Open, powering to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in their semi-final in Beijing on Saturday (4 October).

Highlighting her struggles, Gauff narrowly averted a bagel in the opening set against a fiery Anisimova.

While Gauff was battling to find her footing, Anisimova was a picture of poise and accuracy to secure a third WTA 1000 final berth of 2025. Anisimova is now on the cusp of winning a second career title at this level, following her triumph at the Qatar Open.

The 24-year-old Anisimova opened the contest with a double fault, but from there on out hardly missed a step in her rout of Gauff.

Anisimova broke Gauff on her first service game and did it again on her second to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Gauff then avoided the bagel with a valiant hold after fighting back from 0-40 down to give her a much-needed confidence boost.

She then came close to breaking back in the next game to get some ascendancy over her compatriot with two break points. But Anisimova clawed her way back to hold serve and take the first set at a canter.

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The pain continued for Gauff in the second set, as she lost the opening game with her inconsistent service game costing her dearly.

To add insult to injury, Anisimova returned like a person possessed, picking winners cross-court and down the line.

The on-song Anisimova scorched to a 5-0 advantage before Gauff launched a mini fightback. Gauff saved face in the latter stages of the second set as she induced some rallies and won back-to-back games for the first time in the contest.

She again avoided the bagel by first breaking Anisimova before holding serve with the score on 5-2.

Her resistance only delayed the inevitable as Anisimova held firm to claim the match in dominant style for her place in Sunday’s final.

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