Anisimova Sets Up All-American Beijing SF vs. Defending Champion Gauff

By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 2, 2025
Photo credit: Fred Lee/Getty

Amanda Anisimova continues her Renaissance season hitting milestone marks in Beijing.

The third-seeded Anisimova out-dueled Jasmine Paolini 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 to set up an all-American China Open semifinal vs. defending champion Coco Gauff.

The fourth-ranked Anisimova reached her sixth semifinal of the season—first final four in Beijing—and qualified for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, November 1-8th.

US Open and Wimbledon finalist Anisimova saved 11 of 14 break points she faced in a two hour, 47-minute conquest of 2024 Wimbledon finalist Paolini.

Paolini denied a pair of break points holding for 4-3 in the decider.

Then Anisimova made a gritty stand staving off six break points holding to level after eight games. Anisimova surged through six straight points to book her semifinal spot.

It was Anisimova’s second win over Paolini in as many meetings.

The Freehold, New Jersey natives continues an inspired season.

A year ago, Anisimova was ranked No. 43. Today, she’s ranked a career-high No. 4 a little less than 1,900 ranking points behind Gauff, who is defending Beijing and the WTA Finals championship next month.

Reigning Roland Garros champion Gauff is playing for tournament history herself.

Earlier, Gauff defeated 66th-ranked Eva Lys 6-3, 6-4, advancing to the China Open semifinals for a second straight year.

The second-seeded Gauff is playing to become the first woman to win back-to-back Beijing championships.

“I’m happy with how I played today. She’s a tough opponent, she hit a couple of great shots on the run,” Gauff said.

“I think I need to stay confident in my game and not be too passive when I have the lead. I played one passive point in this match, but otherwise I played well.”

In a quarterfinal that featured five consecutive breaks, Gauff took charge holding for 5-3.

The second-seeded Gauff broke to snatch a one-set lead on a Lys backhand error.

Anisimova and Gauff have split two prior meetings with Anisimova prevailing in their most recent encounter 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1 at the 2022 Wimbledon.