Anisimova Is Best In Beijing, Wins China Open Title

Amanda Anisimova, China Open, Beijing
Amanda Anisimova (photo: China Open)

BEIJING/WASHINGTON, October 5, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova continued what has been an unbelievable year for her in winning the WTA 1000 China Open over Linda Noskova in Beijing Sunday evening.

The 24-year-old American Anisimova, who got her wisdom teeth out the same day she flew to Beijing, defeated the 27th-ranked Noskova, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2, in one hour and 46 minutes to win her second WTA 1000 title this season, following her earlier success at Doha in February.

“I think I learned a lot through this week,” Anisimova said prior to the Beijing final, her fifth WTA Tour title match of 2025. “I think when I’m not feeling my best physically or I’m facing a challenge, I think I pay so much attention to that that I actually play better ’cause I don’t have as much pressure and I’m just seeing how far I can get. 

“Yeah, surprisingly that’s when I play my best I feel like. With each match, I’ve been surprising myself and trying to learn how to work with physical pain, pushing myself in tough matches.”

What began as a rout that favored Anisimova turned into quite a match once Noskova found her rhythm. However, by the end, the New Jersey-born and Florida-raised American proved to be the better player as she won her fourth career WTA Tour title.

“It’s been an incredible few weeks,” Anisimova said as she received the winner’s trophy and first-prize earnings of more than $1.1 million dollars (U.S.), plus 1,000 WTA Rankings points. “… We had a lot of challenges,” she added in recognizing her team. “Despite that, we also still have so much fun and work very hard. It’s crazy that we made it this far and to get the win today has been really special.”

From the outset of the final against Noskova, in which a first-time China Open would be crowned, Anisimova showed flashes of brilliance that have been characteristic in her rise to becoming a Top-10 player. She made a full-court blitz to win the opening set at love in just 23 minutes, hitting 11 winners to just four unforced errors while converting all three of her break-point opportunities. She won 10 of 11 first-serve points and faced no break points on her serve. Anisimova won 27 of the 39 points played. It was all one-way traffic against the 20-year-old Czech.

However, Noskova finally got on the scoreboard with a break of Anisimova in the opening game of the second set and consolidated the break for a 2-0 advantage. Soon, she increased her lead to 3-1 and eventually gained a double-break 5-2 lead as she found her way back into the match after Anisimova’s levels began to dip. Noskova put away the 45-minute second set 6-2 with a solid forehand winner to send the championship final to a decider.

Soon, Anisimova worked her way out of some danger to hold as the third set got underway. Later, at 2-all, she held her serve, then broke Noskova for a 4-2 advantage – needing to win just two more games to garner her second title of the 2025 season. Next, Anisimova parlayed her sixth ace and won points on some big first serves to hold for a 5-2 advantage. Finally, she broke Noskova for the fifth time and the title was hers to savor.

“I want to congratulate Amanda,” Noskova said during the trophy ceremony. “You’ve been playing amazing throughout this whole year. You’ve been more than annoying to all of us.” Her comment broke the tension of the moment and drew some laughter from the crowd that filled the Center Court stadium at the National Tennis Centre.

By the conclusion, Anisimova finished with 36 winners to 35 unforced errors, won 67 percent (52 of 78) of her first-serve points, converted five of eight break points and outpointed Noskova 85-68. Noskova countered with 15 winners to 22 unforced errors, and won two of six break points. However, it was not enough.

En route, Anisimova upset No. 2 seed and defending champion Coco Gauff, 6-1, 6-2, in a 58-minute all-American battle on Saturday to advance to her first China Open final and second WTA 1000 final of the season. This year’s Wimbledon and US Open finalist also scored impressive wins over Katie Boulter, Zhang Shuai, Karolina Muchova and Jasmine Paolini. Anisimova, who secured her first WTA Finals berth earlier in the week – one of three Americans who have already qualified along with Gauff and Madison Keys – will maintain her No. 4 ranking going into this week’s WTA 1000 event in Wuhan. Anisimova improved to 43-15 this season and has won 27 of her last 33 matches since the end of the French Open.

Meanwhile, Noskova (33-22) can look back on a solid Chinese fortnight that will lift her to a new career-high ranking. She fought off three match points to beat No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (6), in a semifinal Saturday evening that stretched across two hours and 28 minutes to reach her first WTA 1000 final. Earlier, she defeated Wang Xiyu, Zheng Qinwen, Anastasia Potapova and Sonay Kartal en route to becoming the youngest Czech player in three decades to reach a final at this level, surpassing Petra Kvitova.

Despite losing the final to Anisimova, Noskova will make her Top 20 debut in the PIF WTA Singles Rankings on Monday, becoming the No. 1-ranked Czech player at No. 17. She will leave Beijing after having earned $597,890 (U.S.) and 650 rankings points.

“These two weeks have been nothing but great,” Noskova said. “I definitely wasn’t coming here feeling that I’m going to play a final. It was a nice surprise. Definitely a great tournament for my career.”

Errani and Paolini rally to win second straight China Open doubles title

Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of rallied from a set down to win their fourth WTA Tour doubles title of the season with a 6-7 (1), 6-3, 10-2 victory over Miyu Kato of Japan and Fanny Stollar of Hungary. 

Errani and Paolini lost only five points on their first serve, faced just one break point – they were not broken – and converted one of seven break points en route to their Beijing victory and a successful defense of their 2024 Beijing title.

“It was an amazing two weeks,” Paolini said during the team’s post-championship news conference. “Really amazing feeling to win this title again. 

“Yeah, today was a tough one, but we managed to come back and we played an amazing tiebreak.”

Added Errani: “We are very proud of how we managed to come back in the match, change after the first set. We end[ed] very good.”

The victory by Errani and Paolini was their third WTA 1000 crown of the season – following Doha and Rome – and they also won the French Open title, too. The Italians improved to 33-11 this season. 

By the numbers

The Amanda Anisimova-Linda Noskova title match was the second WTA 1000 final between two players born during the 2000s, following the Mirra Andreeva-Clara Tauson final at Dubai earlier this year, won by Andreeva.

“Quotable …”

“It’s always been a great feeling to come to the China Open. I think it’s really great tournament, well-organized, nice people, nice fans. I really like to play here. This year I managed to play better in singles. Was a tough one. It’s always great to be back here. tournament to me.”

– Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who has competed in the China Open since 2023. This year, she reached the quarterfinals in singles, losing to eventual-champion Amanda Anisimova, and won the doubles title with fellow Italian Sara Errani.

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