BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells

[9] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. [WC-149] Amanda Anisimova (USA)

At 16 years old, the American teenager is kicking butts and taking names. This is the furthest she has ever gone in the draw of a WTA Tour level event and she is acting like she belongs.

In round one she took out the crafty veteran Pauline Parmentier and in round two she took out a seeded player, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, both without dropping a set. Surely, she was no match for the in-form Kvitova? Yet, Kvitova was pushed to the limit in her previous match and perhaps fatigue was her undoing.

Anisimova served first and if there were any butterflies, she kept them under control and held her serve nicely. It was the veteran, Kvitova, who succumbed to the nerves early and was broken in her first service game. The first set was all Anisimova; she fought off the one break point against her serve.

Kvitova made a mini-comeback in the second set and got the early break. How would the teenager respond? She was unfazed and kept her cool until she got an opportunity to break back, which she did. Kvitova tried everything she could to mount some resistance; however, Anisimova would not be deterred. She played with composure and was able to handle the pace of her opponent without too much difficulty.

She broke again and served for the match at 5-3. This was her first real test, a hold here and she would get the biggest win of her career. For the first time, the young American showed that she was nervous and lost her composure. How would she respond now that her lead was gone? She simply shrugged it off and played one of the best games of the set if not the match to break Kvitova for the 6-2, 6-4 victory.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America: Amanda Anisimova)