Third-seeded Amanda Anisimova clinched the prestigious China Open title on Sunday, delivering a compelling performance to defeat Linda Noskova in a hard-fought final. The American emerged victorious with a scoreline of 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 on the hard-court surface.
Anisimova, who had previously ended fellow American Coco Gauff`s title defense in the semifinal round, sealed her championship win with a masterful backhand winner struck down the line. Following the decisive point, she fell onto her back, celebrating her inaugural trophy at this significant tournament.
Linda Noskova presented a formidable challenge throughout the match. However, her energy seemed to wane in the closing stages of the encounter, which spanned an intense 1 hour and 46 minutes.
This victory marks Anisimova`s second WTA 1000 title of the current season, adding to her win in Doha back in February. Earlier this year, she also reached the finals of both the US Open and Wimbledon, contributing to her impressive rise to No. 4 in the world rankings.
Reflecting on her journey in the post-match press conference, Anisimova shared her thoughts: “It`s certainly been a demanding period for me. I believe I`ve gained significant self-awareness. I can draw many positives from this experience, viewing it as substantial personal growth in learning to tackle obstacles and push my limits when I feel I can`t continue.”
Twenty-year-old Noskova had demonstrated remarkable resilience in the semifinals, notably saving three match points. This achievement made her the youngest Czech player to reach such an advanced stage at a WTA 1000 event since the format was introduced in 2009.
Anisimova dominated the opening set, securing it in just 23 minutes by converting all three of her break points. However, Noskova mounted a comeback in the second set, breaking Anisimova early to force a decisive third. The American player then elevated her game, winning the final four games consecutively to ultimately seal her victory.
With this significant win, Amanda Anisimova joins an elite group as the third American woman to lift the China Open trophy. She follows in the footsteps of tennis legends Serena Williams, who won in 2004 and 2013, and Coco Gauff.
