Gauff thrashed by Anisimova in China Open semis

Defending champion Coco Gauff was thrashed 6-1 6-2 by third seed Amanda Anisimova in their China Open semi-final.

Wimbledon finalist Anisimova, 24, took just 58 minutes to cruise past her compatriot and will play Jessica Pegula or Linda Noskova in Sunday's final.

Anisimova, who also reached the final of the US Open this year, has climbed to world number four and showed her class in dismantling Gauff.

She lost just five points on her first serve in Beijing and won the first five games of the match in a dominant display.

"I was able to put on a really good performance," Anisimova said.

"I knew I was going to have to play really well against Coco if I wanted to get the win and I'm really excited to be in the final."

Gauff's only prior loss on Beijing's centre Diamond Court was to Iga Swiatek in 2023, also in the semi-finals.

She was out of sorts throughout, serving five double faults and hitting a slew of shots long and into the net.