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US Open finalist Anisimova caps breakthrough year with Beijing title / Photo: © AFP
US Open finalist Anisimova caps breakthrough year with Beijing title
Amanda Anisimova beat Linda Noskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 on Sunday to win the China Open for her second title of a breakthrough year and fourth overall.
The third-seeded American survived a second-set wobble to overpower the Czech 26th seed in one hour and 46 minutes in Beijing.
She lifted the trophy in the Chinese capital almost exactly one month after reaching the US Open final, where she lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
"It's been an incredible few weeks," Anisimova said.
"I felt a lot of love," she added, thanking the crowd for their support at the centre Diamond Court.
The 24-year-old Anisimova is the third American to win the China Open after last year's champion Coco Gauff and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
Anisimova collapsed to the hard court in victory, lying on her back and putting her hands over her face.
Anisimova began ruthlessly, winning the first set in 23 minutes without dropping a game.
A defiant Noskova -- contesting her first WTA 1000 final -- found her feet in the second set, breaking early and powering to a 5-2 lead before closing out.
The two went toe-to-toe in the decider until Anisimova broke for a 4-2 lead, digging deep to reach the finish line with a winner on the first match point.
It's been a stellar season for the world number four, who was also runner-up at Wimbledon.
This time last year, Anisimova was at world no. 43.
After her win Anisimova extended her gratitude to her coaches.
"We've had a lot of challenges and despite that we also still have so much fun.
"It's crazy that we made it this far and to get the win today has been very special.
"I'm excited for a lot more, and hopefully we can keep going."
Anisimova dumped out second seed Gauff in the Beijing semi-finals, thrashing the two-time Grand Slam winner 6-1, 6-2 in 58 minutes.
Noskova, who started her Beijing run as world no. 27, said: "I definitely wasn't coming here feeling like I was gonna play finals, so nice surprise."
Anisimova congratulated her opponent whom she called "so young" and said they "still have a lot of finals to play".
Their match was the second WTA 1000 final in which both players were born during the 2000s.
C. Marques--JDB
