Amanda Anisimova continued her stellar year by picking up another title, this time at the China Open in Beijing. The No. 3 seed defeated Linda Noskova 6-0 2-6 6-2 on Sunday, picking up her fourth career title and her second at WTA 1000 level.
Anisimova has been in red-hot form over the last few months, reaching back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. But the American star was “surprised” to make it to the final in Beijing, having had wisdom tooth surgery right before she jetted to China for the tournament.
Speaking after she thrashed Coco Gauff in Saturday’s semi-final, Anisimova said: Iit’s actually pretty surprising because I feel like I took too much time off after US Open. I learned from that because I didn’t really feel like I was match-fit ahead of the tournament.
“Had to take my wisdom tooth out the day that I flew. I was like, ‘Oh, is it a mistake I’m flying there?’ Everything was just off to a bad start.”
Instead, Anisimova has learned that she plays even better when she’s facing a physical problem or challenge, and she produced some statement tennis to be crowned the champion in Beijing.
The 24-year-old came close to bagelling Gauff twice on Saturday. Gauff saved set points at 0-5 on her serve in the first set, and Anisimova was broken when serving for the match at 5-0 in set two, eventually winning 6-1 6-2.
But she got a bagel against Noskova in Sunday’s final, racing the first set in just 23 minutes as the Czech star was left looking helpless.
There were clear nerves for the 20-year-old, who was playing in the biggest final of her career and made too many mistakes, double-faulting down set point. Meanwhile, Anisimova hit 11 winners to just four unforced errors in the speedy set.
The tide started to turn early in set two, as Noskova broke in an 11-minute opening game and then saved two break points while leading 3-2. She continued to raise her level, breaking again and closing out the second set 6-2.
Anisimova and Noskova were both made to save break points early on in the decider, but it was the 20-year-old who blinked first, and Anisimova took a 4-2 lead, cutting down on her unforced errors.
Noskova had one more opportunity to break, but she couldn’t take it, and the No. 3 seed kept on rolling. Holding a championship point on her opponent’s serve, Anisimova fired down another backhand winner and collapsed to the ground in delight.
The American raced to her box, embracing her emotional coaching team, and then wrote: “OMG. Love you Beijing” on the camera lens.