In a stunning display of power and precision, Amanda Anisimova delivered one of her finest performances in recent memory to overcome fellow American Coco Gauff and book her place in the China Open final.
The 23-year-old qualifier, who has been battling her way back up the rankings, produced near-flawless tennis to defeat the world number three with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory in Beijing.
Dominant Display from Start to Finish
Anisimova came out firing from the opening game, breaking Gauff's serve immediately and never looking back. Her aggressive baseline game and thunderous groundstrokes consistently pushed the third seed out of position throughout the 85-minute contest.
"I knew I had to be aggressive from the start," Anisimova said after the match. "Coco is an incredible player who makes you work for every point, so I had to take my opportunities when they came."
Gauff Struggles to Find Rhythm
For Gauff, the match proved frustrating from the outset. The US Open champion struggled to handle Anisimova's powerful returns and committed 28 unforced errors across the two sets.
The 20-year-old fought hard to stay in contention during the second set, saving two match points while trailing 5-2, but ultimately couldn't overcome Anisimova's relentless pressure.
Remarkable Comeback Story Continues
This victory marks another significant milestone in Anisimova's impressive comeback to the tour. After taking a break from tennis earlier this year for mental health reasons, the former world number 21 has shown glimpses of the form that once made her a French Open semifinalist.
Anisimova's run in Beijing has been particularly remarkable, having battled through qualifying and now defeating four seeded players en route to the final.
The American will face either world number one Iga Świątek or Elena Rybakina in what promises to be a thrilling championship match on Sunday.
