Amanda Anisimova sticks to China Open Final after surpassing Coco Gauff

Amanda Anisimova continued a stellar season in which she finished second with Wimbledon and the US Open by going to her second WTA 1000-final of the year, Coco Gauff, the title defender, 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finale of the China Open.

The third place in Beijing, the 24-year-old American now has a 2-1 lead in her head-to-head record against her countryman Gauff.

Anisimova Bludgeon her way to a 5-0 advantage in the opening set before the second seed came on the board to bring the score to 5-1. The second set unfolded in a similar way, with Anisimova building a 5-0 lead. Although Gauff is draining back to win the next two games, Anisimova sealed the victory in 58 minutes.

“I was able to set up a really good performance and I knew that I would have to play very well against Coco if I wanted to win the victory. I am really excited to be in the final,” said Anisimova.

“I say every time I walked on the field and won my game that I like to play here and the support of the crowd is so great since the first day I arrived here. I really think that has worn me through this entire tournament. Hopefully everyone can come out and support me in the final.”

Next to the world is no. 4 Linda Noskova. The Czech 26th seed defeated the American fifth seed, Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (6) in the second semifinal later on Saturday.

In the meantime, Alexander Zverev has claimed at the Shanghai Masters that tournament organizers delayed the courts to favor the top two in the world, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The world no. 3 conquered an injury afraid of beating Valentin Royer with 6-4, 6-4, but then expressed his dissatisfaction with the way he felt that the sport was on his way.

“I hate it when it’s the same,” he said in his interview on the field. “I think the tournament directors are going in that direction because they want Jannik and Carlos to do every tournament well, and that’s what they prefer. Nowadays you can play almost the same way on any surface. I don’t like it, I’m not a fan of it.

Zverev had to be treated on the field for a toe injury when serving for the game at 5-4 in the second set, but it did not stop his progress. “I landed funny on my toe and after that I could hardly take a step, so we will see what it is,” he added. “We will see if I will be healthy again this year, because it has been a struggle, but I am happy to continue.”