China Open Shock! Boulter OUT After Anisimova Blitz – What Happened?

Great Britain's Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie faced tough losses at the China Open, marking an early exit for both players. Boulter, the British number two, suffered a decisive 6-1, 6-3 defeat against Amanda Anisimova, a Wimbledon and US Open finalist. Despite a previous win against Hailey Baptiste in the first round, Boulter couldn't overcome Anisimova's strong performance.

In the men's draw, Cameron Norrie also bowed out after losing to eighth-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the first round. While Norrie had previously defeated Medvedev at the French Open earlier this year, he couldn't replicate that success, losing 6-3, 6-4 in Beijing.

Boulter's recent performance in the Billie Jean King Cup, where she helped Great Britain reach the semi-finals with a notable win over Japan's Moyuka Uchijima, offered a glimpse of her potential. This victory was a welcome return to form after a disappointing Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round, and a first-round exit at the US Open.

Norrie's season has been a rollercoaster. He reached the quarter-finals of a major for the first time in three years at Wimbledon but was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz. At the US Open, he expressed regret over his 'overconfidence' in a tight match against Novak Djokovic.

Meanwhile, in other matches at the China Open, Coco Gauff continued her title defense with a dominant 6-4, 6-0 victory over Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova. Gauff will face Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the next round, who also secured an emphatic win against Maria Sakkari.

What's Next for Boulter and Norrie?

Both Boulter and Norrie will be looking to regroup and prepare for future tournaments. Boulter will aim to build on her Billie Jean King Cup performances, while Norrie will seek to regain his confidence after a series of setbacks. The tennis world will be watching to see how these British stars bounce back from their China Open defeats.