The third round in the bottom half of the main draw delivered high drama and major talking points. Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini lived up to expectations, while Elena Rybakina was shocked by rising German talent Eva Lys.
Gauff and Paolini Advance with Confidence
Coco Gauff (USA) came through a tense battle against Leylah Fernandez (CAN), edging her 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Jasmine Paolini (ITA) was far more clinical, racing past Sofia Kenin (USA) 6-3, 6-0. The Italian dictated play with her heavy forehand and relentless movement. Together, Gauff and Paolini’s wins underline their momentum in this half. Both are now firmly on course for a potential head-to-head clash.
Anisimova Stays Ruthless
Amanda Anisimova (USA) overcame a shaky start to defeat Zhang Shuai (CHN) 7-6(11), 6-0. The American saved several set points in a tense first-set tiebreak before finally converting on her seventh opportunity. She carried that momentum into the second set, racing to a dominant finish. Once she clinched the opener, her power game overwhelmed Zhang in a one-sided second set. Anisimova’s ability to raise her level at crucial moments makes her a dangerous force in this half. This win confirms that she has carried her previous form into Beijing.
Rybakina Upset by Lys
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) suffered a surprise defeat, falling 3-6, 6-1, 4-6 to Germany’s Eva Lys. After dropping the first set, the Wimbledon champion looked back in control as she raced through the second. But Lys refused to fold, attacking fearlessly and breaking late in the deciding set. Rybakina’s serve, normally her biggest weapon, wavered at key moments. For Lys, this marks another big win in her young career and a new breakthrough moment on one of the tour’s biggest stages.
Rybakina vs Lys – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Rybakina | Lys |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.99 | 1.01 |
| Serve Rating | 201 | 201 |
| Aces | 8 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 51% (53/104) | 71% (60/85) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 57% (30/53) | 60% (36/60) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 44% (24/54) | 28% (7/25) |
| Break Points Saved | 65% (13/20) | 22% (2/9) |
| Service Games | 46% (6/13) | 46% (6/13) |
| Ace % | 7.7% | 1.2% |
| Double Fault % | 4.8% | 5.9% |
| Return Rating | 244 | 188 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 40% (24/60) | 43% (23/53) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 72% (18/25) | 56% (30/54) |
| Break Points Won | 78% (7/9) | 35% (7/20) |
| Return Games | 54% (7/13) | 54% (7/13) |
| Pressure Points | 69% (20/29) | 31% (9/29) |
| Service Points | 50% (52/104) | 51% (43/85) |
| Return Points | 49% (42/85) | 50% (52/104) |
| Total Points | 50% (94/189) | 50% (95/189) |
| Match Points Saved | 2 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 10 | 6 |
| Service Games Won | 46% (6/13) | 46% (6/13) |
| Return Games Won | 54% (7/13) | 54% (7/13) |
| Total Games Won | 50% (13/26) | 50% (13/26) |
| Max Games In A Row | 4 | 3 |
| Match Duration | 2h 16m | |
Big Shifts in the Half
- McCartney Kessler (USA) advanced in unusual fashion, benefitting from the retirement of Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) at 1-6, 7-5, 3-0. Krejcikova had battled back after a poor opening set and looked out of sorts when she had to stop.
- Belinda Bencic (SUI) survived a stern test from Priscilla Hon (AUS), grinding out a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win with her trademark consistency.
- Marie Bouzkova (CZE) proved steadier than Veronika Kudermetova (WRL), winning 6-3, 7-5 in a clean display of counterpunching.
- Karolina Muchova (CZE) led 4-2 when Paula Badosa (ESP) retired, cutting short what promised to be one of the round’s most intriguing matchups.
- At the end of the day, the main takeaway from all matches was that Elena Rybakina still fatally struggles to close out games after winning the first set.
What’s Next
Gauff and Paolini remain the headline players, both in strong form heading into the quarterfinals. Anisimova and Lys loom as potential spoilers with the confidence of big wins. Krejcikova, Bencic, and Bouzkova bring experience and resilience into the mix. With Rybakina now gone this half of the draw promises more high drama in the next round.