CHINA OPEN

October 4, 2025

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/C. Gauff

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, congratulations. Your thoughts on being into the Beijing final?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I'm super excited to be in the final here for the first time. It's been a really special week. I've really enjoyed playing out here with a lot of fans coming out for each match. So it's been really fun.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How much of that performance today was all about you and what you were able to feel in terms of what you could do with the ball today? How much confidence do you get, especially the way the last match finished?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I feel like I felt really good throughout the whole match. Like all my shots were working today, which is like my favorite way to play (smiling). I didn't really have to adjust much.

So yeah, I was just really happy with my performance. Coco is a really tough player. I knew I was going to have to really step it up today.

But yeah, overall really pleased with my performance. Just happy to be in the final.

Q. Obviously you don't know your opponent for tomorrow yet. What are your initial thoughts going in, whether it was Jessica or Linda?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I feel like my mindset doesn't change depending on who I play. I always try to stick with the same things that I do. My approach is going to be the same as it has been with every match.

But yeah, it's going to be definitely another challenge for sure, a tough match, especially since it's a final. Yeah, I'm looking forward to another tough challenge. Hopefully it will be a good match.

Q. When you landed in Beijing before the tournament started, did you have a sense that a week or week and a half like this was in the cards for you in terms of how you were practicing or feeling, or does this surprise you that you've landed in the Beijing final right after New York?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Were you at my practices (laughter)? Oh, my God.

No, I mean, it's actually pretty surprising because I feel like I took too much time off after US Open. I learned from that because I didn't really feel like I was match-fit ahead of the tournament. Had to take my wisdom tooth out the day that I flew. I was like, Oh, is it a mistake I'm flying there? Everything was just off to a bad start.

I think I learned a lot through this week. I think when I'm not feeling my best physically or I'm facing a challenge, I think I pay so much attention to that that I actually play better 'cause I don't have as much pressure and I'm just seeing how far I can get. Yeah, surprisingly that's when I play my best I feel like. With each match, I've been surprising myself and trying to learn how to work with physical pain, pushing myself in tough matches.

Yeah, I feel like actually this week has been a lot of progress in that department. Just really happy that I stuck with it and kept pushing myself even when I thought I couldn't anymore.

Yeah, I'm definitely quite surprised I made it to the final. Just really happy.

Q. You achieved many career highs in 2025. Also your first finals in Beijing coming up. How would you sum up your 2025 so far?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I think I've had a great year so far. There's been a lot of new experiences and achievements that I never have been able to do before. Yeah, it's been a great year for me. Really, really happy to be doing so well. I feel like a lot of my work has been paying off.

I hope that I can continue it through through this last final season. I know it gets tough for a lot of players because it's a long year.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to finishing the season strong.

Q. You talked a lot about the physical toll this week. What is it like to be able to get through a match today pretty quickly compared to some of the longer three-set matches you've had earlier in the tournament?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, it was a little bit of a relief at times I think that it was going by pretty quickly. Then again, I also love a challenge. When I was playing Jasmine, I felt like I was dying. It really felt like a marathon. When I'm in the thick of it, I actually enjoy seeing how far I can push myself, to face like a really tough challenge.

Either way I think that I'm okay with it regardless. Yeah, I was ready for a tough battle again today.

Q. The last few days you've talked about the fans and the support they've given you. Can you talk a little bit more about that, what your experience at the China Open has been from that perspective, giving you the vibes that you needed to make a run like this?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I feel like the vibe has been great since the day I got here when it comes to the fans and the support. I felt like truly really supported out here, which is always a great feeling.

I remember last year when I lost in the round of 16, I was actually really sad, really wished that I could have stayed longer, had a deeper run.

Yeah, I'm really, really excited. I feel like I always feel a certain way here with the crowd and the fans. I don't know if it's a shared experience for all the players, but they really make me feel like home, very loved.

It's always really pleasant to be here.

Q. You defeated Aryna in Wimbledon and Iga in US Open and Coco here. Do you think which match is your best performance this year?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I mean, I feel like every match is different, so it's hard to say. Like every match is unique in its own way. I've been happy with all my performances.

Yeah, I mean, it's hard to just pick one. I mean, I'm pleased with all the matches that I've had this year. They're all really good wins for me.