Gauff and Anisimova Battle in Beijing Semifinals Showdown

BEIJING, China — Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova are set for a thrilling semifinal clash at the China Open this Saturday, marking their first meeting in three years. Both players come into the match battle-tested, having faced tough opponents to reach this stage.

Gauff, the defending champion and ranked third, has shown resilience throughout the tournament. After a challenging three-set match against Leylah Fernandez in the third round, she secured a vital 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory against Belinda Bencic, marking their third meeting of the year. Her journey to the semifinals was capped with a straight-sets win over Eva Lys.

On the other side, No. 3 seed Anisimova won her way to the semifinal with a gritty comeback against No. 6 Jasmine Paolini, winning 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4. This marks a historic moment as it represents the first WTA 1000 semifinal between two American players outside of North America in 21 years.

The players have an even head-to-head record of 1-1, with Gauff winning their first encounter in Parma four years ago and Anisimova redeeming herself at Wimbledon three years later. “It’s going to be another really tough challenge against Coco,” Anisimova stated. “I’m excited to play an American for the first time here. It’s going to be a fun one.”

Gauff has found immense success in Beijing. She has won 14 out of her first 15 matches at the China Open, a record unbeaten by past champions like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. Her wins stem from her tenacity and impressive problem-solving skills, as she showcased in her victories. “It’s been a lot of fight, I think, for sure,” Gauff reflected on her matches. “Honestly in the tiebreak, I got a little bit lucky hitting a let cord on one of those points.”

Anisimova, too, is in formidable form, having secured her second comeback victory over a Top 10 player this week. “There have been a lot of challenges for me the past two weeks,” said Anisimova. “And I’ve managed to try and figure my way through.” She possesses a powerful backhand, clocking an impressive 77 mph during her matches.

Looking forward, Gauff aims for her third title this year while Anisimova is eager to secure her position for the upcoming PIF WTA Finals in Riyadh. With both players performing exceptionally, their semifinal encounter is anticipated to be a thrilling battle of skill and determination.