Amanda Anisimova’s incredible rookie run at Indian Wells had to end sometime. On Tuesday, the 16-year-old succumbed to world No. 5 Karolina Pliskova, 6-1, 7-6 (2), in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
The first set rapidly went in the Czech’s direction, with Anisimova looking little like the steady wild-card entry that swept aside the likes of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Petra Kvitova. To be fair, Pliskova was well-prepared for the task at hand, giving little away.
The American found her rhythm in the second set, even battling ahead to a 4-3 lead. It appeared she was having stomach problems as she called for a trainer and doctor. She was tended to somewhat inopportunely when she was up 5-4.
But Pliskova wasn’t going to let this go three sets, shutting out Anisimova in an eventual tiebreaker, 7-2. The entire time, Anisimova looked disgruntled with her play, a sign that shows she thinks she's capable of much better—which the former US Open finalist has proved she's capable of.