Coco Gauff Advances to China Open Semifinals

Coco Gauff cruises past Lys, faces Anisimova in Beijing Semis

World number three Coco Gauff and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova book their spots in the China Open semifinals. Gauff defeated Eva Lys 6-3, 6-4, while Anisimova battled past Jasmine Paolini 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4.

“She hit some incredible shots off the run, so I was just trying my best to stay aggressive...”

Coco Gauff cruised past unseeded Eva Lys with a 6-3, 6-4 win, securing her spot in the China Open semifinals for the third consecutive year. The world number three played aggressively, breaking Lys three times in the opening set and converting three of her four break point opportunities.

“I'm happy with how I played today,” Gauff, seeded two, said. “(Lys is) a tough opponent.

“She hit some incredible shots off the run, so I was just trying my best to stay aggressive.”

Gauff gained momentum after an even start to the quarter-final, taking the first set when her German opponent hit a shot out of bounds.

“I think I maybe played one passive point in this game, but after that I think I played good tennis,” Gauff added.

Lys, who earlier stunned Elena Rybakina to reach the quarterfinals and secure her first top-10 win, couldn't repeat the feat against Gauff. Despite a strong start, Lys's momentum waned as Gauff took control of the match.

In the second set, Lys grew frustrated after missing a break chance, throwing her racquet in anger. However, Gauff maintained her composure and eventually sealed the win in 1 hour and 28 minutes, her quickest match of the tournament so far.

Gauff d. Eva Lys 6-3 6-4

Coco reaches her 3rd consecutive Beijing SF.

10th consecutive win in Beijing.

14 wins, 1 loss at this event throughout her career.

This is her first time reaching a SF since winning Roland Garros.

✅4th SF of 2025
✅42nd win of 2025

🇺🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/VituUjw93Q

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 2, 2025

Anisimova's Hard-Fought Win

Anisimova battled past Jasmine Paolini in a grueling match, winning 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 after nearly three hours on court. A controversy arose in the third set when the umpire ruled in favor of Anisimova after Paolini coughed during a serve, allowing Anisimova to retain her ace. Anisimova showed resilience, saving six break points to level at 4-4 before closing out the match. This win sets up a semifinal clash with Coco Gauff.

“It was super tough,” the 24-year-old said.

“It's been a while since I played (Paolini) and today... had everything.”

Her win in the Chinese capital earned her a first-ever appearance in the WTA Finals.

“It's my first time that I'm gonna play there, and it was a goal that I set for myself at the beginning of the year,” she said.

Upcoming Match Against Amanda Anisimova

Gauff will face US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, marking an all-American showdown in Beijing. Anisimova earned her spot in the semifinals by defeating Jasmine Paolini 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-4. As the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament, Gauff aims to continue her strong performance and potentially claim her second China Open title.

China Open Draw Update

The China Open draw has cleared the way for an exciting quarterfinal matchup between two American tennis players, Emma Navarro and Jessica Pegula. Navarro, seeded 16th, will face off against 5th seed Pegula after defeating Poland's Iga Świątek, ranked 2nd, in a thrilling three-set match.

Top Players' Absence and Performance

Top-ranked players have had varying fortunes in the tournament. Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one from Belarus, withdrew from the tournament due to a minor injury. Meanwhile, Świątek's early exit has paved the way for Navarro's advancement. Other notable players like Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova have also progressed to the quarterfinals, setting up an all-American semifinal match between Gauff and Anisimova.