Gauff, Anisimova Roll Through Beijing Openers

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 26, 2025
Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty

Americans advanced with crushing conquests in their Beijing openers.

Defending champion Coco Gauff stormed through seven straight games dispatching Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 for her seventh straight China Open win.

In her first match since losing to Naomi Osaka in the US Open fourth round, Gauff was decisive on pivotal points.

The second-seeded Gauff hit four aces against five double faults and denied all 10 break points she faced in a one hour, 42-minute win.

“I think the mindset is a little bit different just because when you play well at a place, you have a lot of confidence,” Gauff said. “When those tough moments happen, you feel the familiarity of the conditions from the years before that.”

The two-time WTA 1000 champion improved to 39-13 on the season. Gauff is in China without new biomechanical coach Gavin MacMillan, but the pair plan to reunite when she returns to the United States after the Asian swing.

The 21-year-old Gauff will face Canadian Leylah Fernndez in the second round. Gauff is 2-0 lifetime vs. Fernandez, including a 6-4, 6-2 sweep in the Australian Open third round last January.

Washington, DC champion Fernandez dismissed Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-0 converting all five break points she earned.

“I expected it to be close,” Gauff said of her opener. “She’s a great player, and she’s had competitive results with top players in the last few tournaments. I just found my rhythm and got in the flow.

“Nobody wants to lose first round, so I was just a little bit tight, I think, but I was able to loosen up and I think that showed in the score.”

Playing her first match since losing the US Open final, Amanda Anisimova conquered Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-3 in their first meeting.

Wimbledon finalist Anisimova smacked five aces against one double fault and saved al four break points she faced.

Anisimova stormed out to a 5-1 lead and erased three break points before serving out the opening set on her first set point.

In the second set, Boulter ceded the break in the fifth game committing three double faults, including two in a row as Anisimova broke for 3-2.

On her third match point, Anisimova ripped her trademark two-hander down the line to seal the win and improve to 20-8 on hard courts in 2025.

“I’m super excited to be back in Beijing, I love the city,” Anisimova said. “It’s good to be back and be through my first round. I really like playing here so I’m hoping I can do well, keep on fighting and competing, and hopefully I can get far in these tournaments.

“I have a lot of fans here which, is really, really nice. You guys were great today so I hope you can all come out for my next one.”

Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin was a 6-4, 6-2 victor over Polina Kudermetova.

The 27th-seeded Kenin will face sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini next.

Italian Billie Jean King Cup hero Paolini swept Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-3.