The quarterfinal battle between Amanda Anisimova and Jasmine Paolini was always expected to deliver drama, and it did not disappoint. Both players produced tennis at a level worthy of the world’s Top 3, mesmerizing the Beijing crowd with breathtaking rallies and relentless intensity.
A Clash Worthy of the Biggest Stage
After both athletes held serve in the early exchanges, Anisimova edged ahead with a break for 5-3. Yet Paolini, refusing to let go, immediately broke back and pushed the set into a tiebreak. The Italian surged ahead 5-2 with a spectacular rally that even left Anisimova rooted to the baseline, watching helplessly as the ball sped past. With her confidence soaring, Paolini sealed the breaker 7-4 after more than an hour of gripping play.
Paolini vs Anisimova – Set 1 Match Stats
| Statistic | Paolini | Anisimova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.02 | 0.98 |
| Serve Rating | 280 | 269 |
| Aces | 0 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 69% (35/51) | 73% (29/40) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 54% (19/35) | 66% (19/29) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 75% (12/16) | 45% (5/11) |
| Break Points Saved | 67% (2/3) | 67% (2/3) |
| Service Games | 83% (5/6) | 83% (5/6) |
| Ace % | 0% | 7.5% |
| Double Fault % | 2% | 2.5% |
| Return Rating | 139 | 121 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 34% (10/29) | 46% (16/35) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 55% (6/11) | 25% (4/16) |
| Break Points Won | 33% (1/3) | 33% (1/3) |
| Return Games | 17% (1/6) | 17% (1/6) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (3/6) | 50% (3/6) |
| Service Points | 61% (31/51) | 60% (24/40) |
| Return Points | 40% (16/40) | 39% (20/51) |
| Total Points | 52% (47/91) | 48% (44/91) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 5 |
| Total Games Won | 50% (6/12) | 50% (6/12) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 3 |
| Match Duration | 1h 01m | |
Anisimova Strikes Back in the Second
Seemingly unshaken by losing the opener, Anisimova elevated her game further in the second set. Playing with controlled aggression and consistency, she broke Paolini twice in succession to race out to a 4-0 lead. Although the Italian clawed one break back, Anisimova’s dominance from the baseline and her relentless hitting from both wings proved decisive. She closed out the set 6-3, leveling the match and limiting Paolini to just 50% of points won behind her serve despite landing 80% of first serves.
Paolini vs Anisimova – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Paolini | Anisimova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.76 | 1.32 |
| Serve Rating | 217 | 262 |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 80% (24/30) | 62% (18/29) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 54% (13/24) | 67% (12/18) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 33% (2/6) | 55% (6/11) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (2/4) | 50% (1/2) |
| Service Games | 50% (2/4) | 80% (4/5) |
| Ace % | 0% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 0% | 6.9% |
| Return Rating | 148 | 213 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 33% (6/18) | 46% (11/24) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 45% (5/11) | 67% (4/6) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (1/2) | 50% (2/4) |
| Return Games | 20% (1/5) | 50% (2/4) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (3/6) | 50% (3/6) |
| Service Points | 50% (15/30) | 62% (18/29) |
| Return Points | 38% (11/29) | 50% (15/30) |
| Total Points | 44% (26/59) | 56% (33/59) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 4 |
| Total Games Won | 33% (3/9) | 67% (6/9) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 4 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h 44m | |
Decider Tests Mental and Physical Resilience
The third set became a battle of mental toughness, physical endurance, and tactical precision. Anisimova broke first, but Paolini responded immediately. Locked at 3-3, Paolini surged ahead 4-3 and earned six break points that could have swung the match in her favor.
Digging deep, Anisimova saved them all in a remarkable hold that shifted momentum firmly her way. From there, she reeled off eight consecutive points, breaking Paolini and then serving out the match with authority. After two hours and 49 minutes, the American sealed a thrilling 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 victory in one of the finest matches of the tournament.
Paolini vs Anisimova – Set 3 Stats
| Statistic | Paolini | Anisimova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.84 | 1.19 |
| Serve Rating | 223 | 256 |
| Aces | 1 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 72% (23/32) | 62% (31/50) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 57% (13/23) | 61% (19/31) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 33% (3/9) | 53% (10/19) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (2/4) | 89% (8/9) |
| Service Games | 60% (3/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| Ace % | 3.1% | 2% |
| Double Fault % | 0% | 2% |
| Return Rating | 117 | 200 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 39% (12/31) | 43% (10/23) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 47% (9/19) | 67% (6/9) |
| Break Points Won | 11% (1/9) | 50% (2/4) |
| Return Games | 20% (1/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Pressure Points | 23% (3/13) | 77% (10/13) |
| Service Points | 50% (16/32) | 58% (29/50) |
| Return Points | 42% (21/50) | 50% (16/32) |
| Total Points | 45% (37/82) | 55% (45/82) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 8 |
| Total Games Won | 40% (4/10) | 60% (6/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 3 |
| Set 3 Duration | 1h 04m | |
Eyes on Riyadh and Beyond
The Anisimova the tennis world has seen since her double bagel loss at Wimbledon is built of steel. Time and again, she has shown the resilience to recover from a set down, fighting for every point with unshakable belief. Her current level is undoubtedly among the very best on tour.
With this victory, Anisimova books her place at the WTA Finals in Riyadh and advances to her third career WTA 1000 semifinal, having previously reached the Canadian Open final in 2024 and won the Qatar Open earlier this season.
Her next test is an all-American clash against defending champion Coco Gauff. The two are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head but have never faced each other on hard courts. If Anisimova can block out the occasion and focus on her game, she may well be considered the favorite. The only question now is: can she rise to the moment again?