China Open: Amanda Anisimova demolishes Coco Gauff to reach final in Beijing
Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova stuns Coco Gauff to reach the China Open final against 20-year-old Czech Linda Noskova; Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Saturday 4 October 2025 17:34, UK
Amanda Anisimova produced an astonishing performance to sweep aside defending champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 and reach the China Open final on Saturday.
Anisimova dominated fellow American Gauff from the start, sweeping to victory to reach her second WTA 1000 final of the year.
The 24-year-old, who has become the only player this year with wins against Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Gauff, will take on Linda Noskova in Sunday's final after the Czech 20-year-old stunned fifth seed Jessica Pegula 6-3 1-6 7-6 (8-6).
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Anisimova bludgeoned her way to a 5-0 advantage in the opening set before second seed Gauff got on the board to make it 5-1.
The second set unfolded in a similar fashion, with Anisimova building a commanding 5-0 lead.
Although Gauff fought back to win the next two games, Anisimova sealed the victory in just 58 minutes.
"I was just excited to play here in my first semi-final," said Anisimova. "I was able to put on a really good performance and I knew I was going have to play really well against Coco if I wanted to get the win. I'm really excited to be in the final.
"I've been saying every time I've walked on court and won my match that I love playing here and the crowd support has been so amazing since the first day I got here.
"I really think that's carried me through this entire tournament. Hopefully everyone can come out and support me in the final"
Noskova saved three match points before edging past Pegula to reach the biggest final of her career.
"Honestly, I don't even know about the final, I'm just so glad I won today. It was quite a tough match, mentally and physically," Noskova said.
The 20-year-old Czech frustrated the world No 7 to win the first set 6-3 but Pegula bounced back to dominate the second, as Noskova succumbed to a 6-1 loss in less than half an hour.
The third set tested both players in an 84-minute battle of grit as neither could hold serve in the first four games.
Pegula earned a break to go 6-5 up and serve for the match, but Noskova denied her opponent victory before somehow forcing a tie-break.
The American moved 3-1 up, but made two unforced errors that let Noskova back in, and she fell to her knees after Pegula's backhand return landed wide to end the gruelling match.
Noskova leads the tour in match wins in Asia this season with 13, one more than Swiatek, who was eliminated earlier in the week.
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