Amanda Anisimova defeated Linda Noskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 on Sunday to claim the China Open title — her second trophy of a breakthrough season and the fourth of her career.
The third-seeded American overcame a shaky second set to overpower the 26th-seeded Czech in one hour and 46 minutes in Beijing. Her victory came just a month after she reached the US Open final, where she lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
The 24-year-old became the third American to win the China Open, following last year’s champion Coco Gauff and 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams.
Anisimova dominated from the outset, taking the first set in just 23 minutes without conceding a game. Noskova responded in the second, breaking early and surging to a 5-2 lead before levelling the match.
The final set was fiercely contested until Anisimova broke for a 4-2 advantage and sealed victory with a winner on her first match point. She collapsed to the court in celebration, lying on her back with her hands over her face.
It has been a stellar season for the world number four, who also finished as runner-up at Wimbledon. Remarkably, she was ranked 43rd at this time last year.
Anisimova’s path to the title included a dominant 6-1, 6-2 semi-final win over second seed Gauff. For Noskova, ranked 27th at the start of the tournament, the match marked her first appearance in a WTA 1000 final.