Anisimova set to face Gauff in semifinals after three-set victory over Paolini

No. 3 seed Amanda Anisimova will face defending champion Coco Gauff in the semifinals of the 2025 China Open after a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini, on Thursday, Oct. 2, on the Diamond court. Gauff advanced after beating Eva Lys in straight sets earlier in the day. 

This will be the first meeting between Gauff and Anisimova since 2022 Wimbledon. Anisimova won that match in three sets. This will be their first meeting on hard courts.

“I’m looking forward to playing an American here,” Anisimova told China Open. “I’m sure it’s gonna be a lot of fun, and she’s a strong opponent, so I’m sure it’s gonna be another challenge for me.”

Anisimova has had a successful year, winning the Qatar Open and reaching the finals at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, making her the first American woman to do so. The 24-year-old’s advance to the semifinals is her most successful run at the China Open in her three appearances, and the win qualified her for the WTA Finals for the first time in her career.

Against Paolini, Anisimova made a comeback for the second consecutive match this tournament, going through highs and lows as she stuffed up the stat sheet with winners and unforced errors. But her highs were enough to secure a trip to the next round. 

In the first set the players exchanged breaks to go into a tiebreak in which Paolini took an early 4-1 lead and emerged with the win. Anisimova started the second set by breaking serve twice to go up 4-0. She appeared to be playing her best tennis of the match and afterward credited improvement on her return as to why she began dominating. Paolini earned a break of her own but it wasn’t enough as Anisimova forced a third set. 

The decider began with an exchange of breaks to tie the set 1-1. In a long, tightly contested eighth game, Anisimova saved six break points before winning the game and tying the set 4-4. Anisimova carried that momentum to break serve and hold her own to win the match after 2 hours and 49 minutes of high intensity tennis. 

—Reporting by Dane Vogel

Gauff moves one step closer to defending her China Open title

Defending champion Coco Gauff returned to the China Open semifinals after defeating Eva Lys 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday, Oct. 2, on the Diamond Court. The No. 2 seed is now two wins away from successfully defending a WTA 1000 title for the first time in her career.

This tournament has presented a challenge for Gauff, with her previous matches against Leylah Fernandez and Belinda Bencic going to three sets. 

“It’s been a lot of fight, I think, for sure.” Gauff said in a post-match press conference. “Obviously against Leylah, I played her three times. This is for sure the best time I played her. She was playing great tennis. I had to get through that barely. Same thing with Belinda.”

The American has remained fierce though; her sharp forehand shots and control of the court remained solid against her opponents, including Lys.  

In the first set, Gauff broke serve and took a 3-1 lead. She then used short shots to bring Lys close to the net and get passing shots. The players traded games to reach 5-3, and Gauff held serve in the next game to win the set. 

Lys showed more resilience in the second set, sending the ball deep to make Gauff run. At 2-2, Gauff broke serve, then the players traded games with Gauff holding serve afterward to reach 5-3. They then held until Gauff won the match.

“These next two matches, obviously the further you go, the harder it's going to get.” Gauff said.

—Reporting by Rebecca Jackson