Amanda Anisimova thrashes Coco Gauff to reach China Open Final as title defence ends in just 58 minutes

Coco Gauff has suffered a pretty brutal defeat on Saturday morning in a match dubbed by many as too close to call against Amanda Anisimova. Well that certainly wasn't the case from her end as the latter continued her exceptional season winning 6-1, 6-2 in just 58 minutes.

Anisimova reaches her third career WTA 1000 final at the China Open and has now reached two consecutive finals after being runner-up at the US Open having also reached the final of Wimbledon earlier this summer.

It could have been even worse for Gauff who narrowly avoided getting bageled in both sets. She had to save set points while 0-5 down in the opening set ad also saved her blushes in the second breaking back Anisimova while serving for the match. Gauff's serve though in particular broke down when it needed to be there the most with the reigning China Open champion hitting five double faults in all to fall right into the clutches of Anisimova.

It was a third career meeting between the pair but part of the illusion of it being a close tie on paper was that they hadn't played in years. It was their first on hard court and Gauff won in Parma which is no longer on the main tour last four years ago. While Anisimova won at Wimbledon in 2022.

Anisimova hilariously quipped yesterday about people saying she looked 12 in her headshot and it was likely taken when they last played a couple of years ago. Since then Gauff has become a two-time major winner sealing the US Open in 2023 and winning the French Open earlier this year.

But Anisimova has perhaps had an even better year sans a Grand Slam losing in two finals but she won in Doha in February and this a year or so after returning to the sport following an extended period off due to mental health and burnout. Initially deciding to go to college, it seemed perhaps unlikely that she would even return to tennis no mind have the impact she has had.

Gauff struggled to win points on her own serve in the disheartening loss and while she stepped it up at the end of the first and had break points in the next game, Anisimova shut the door and took the opening set in just 27 minutes. She followed that up racing into a 5-0 lead in the decider. Gauff closed the gap to 5-2 breaking to remain alive. But this only delayed the inevitible as Anisimova then served out the match to shut the door again. Next is either Jessica Pegula or Linda Noskova.

“I was just excited to play here in my first semi-final and I was able to put on a really good performance," said Anisimova.

“I knew I was going to have to play really well against Coco if I wanted to get the win. Yeah, I’m excited to be in the final.

“It’s super exciting, and I’m super happy to be in my first final here. I’ve been saying every time that I’ve walked onto this 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 and hopefully everyone can come out and support me in the final again.”