Amanda Anisimova Demolishes Coco Gauff in Stunning China Open Upset

Well, well, well. Just when you thought defending champions had some sort of magical immunity, along comes Amanda Anisimova to absolutely obliterate that fantasy. The American third seed didn’t just beat Coco Gauff in the China Open semifinals – she straight-up dismantled her 6-1, 6-2 in what can only be described as a tennis masterclass wrapped in a nightmare for the defending champion.

Anisimova’s Ruthless Display Leaves Gauff Shell-Shocked

Let’s be brutally honest here – this wasn’t even close. Anisimova came out swinging like she had a personal vendetta against tennis balls, taking the first five games before Gauff could even remember she was supposed to be playing tennis. The world No. 2 seed looked about as comfortable as a vegetarian at a barbecue competition.

Gauff managed to avoid the dreaded bagel in the first set, saving two set points when down 0-5. How generous of her opponent to let her get on the scoreboard, right? But Anisimova wasn’t feeling particularly charitable for long, wrapping up the opener in a swift 27 minutes that probably felt like an eternity for Gauff fans.

The second set? More of the same punishment. Anisimova jumped out to another 5-0 lead because apparently she hadn’t made her point clear enough yet. Gauff showed some fighting spirit by breaking back and holding serve to make it 5-2, but honestly, that was like putting a band-aid on a broken dam.

Gauff’s Serving Woes Continue to Haunt Her Game

Here’s where things get particularly painful for Gauff supporters – her serve was about as reliable as a chocolate teapot. Five double faults in a semifinal? That’s the kind of stat that makes coaches reach for the nearest stress ball. For someone who promised “a fight” before the match, Gauff delivered about as much resistance as wet tissue paper.

The 21-year-old had confidently declared before the semifinal that her opponent should be ready for battle. “It’s going to be a fight for that,” she proclaimed. Well, technically there was a fight – it just lasted about as long as most people’s New Year’s resolutions.

This marked the first meeting between these two Americans since 2022, and Anisimova now leads their head-to-head 2-1. More importantly, she’s heading to her third career WTA 1000 final, which is no small feat in today’s competitive landscape.

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