Tennis Boxing: Amanda Anisimova vs Camila Giorgi

Tennis Boxing from Indian Wells
Amanda Anisimova vs Camila Giorgi
(United States vs Italy)
WTA Rankings: #81 vs #38

Event: BNP Paribas Open
Location: Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California, USA

{{{ Based on a real-life tennis match from the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in October 2021 }}}

BEFORE: Top US prospect Amanda Anisimova has struggled for results in the last couple of years mainly due to difficult off-court circumstances but she vows to bounce back in the Californian desert against power-hitting Camila Giorgi coming off her biggest career performance over in Montreal where she won a coveted WTA 1000 title. Most pundits expect a vintage back & forth shootout so the fight probably won't go the distance and the fans in Indian Wells will get their money's worth regardless of the result!

Amanda Anisimova wears a white bikini set & blue gloves. Long blonde hair tied in a custom ponytail. Camila Giorgi wears a beige bikini set & red gloves. Long blonde hair tied in a braid. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the welterweight division.

Round 1:
We're off to a quick start as Camila sprays her trademark high-volume assault on target but fails to break the fellow blonde's resilience and gets caught on the response when Amanda nicks a couple of nasty shots between the mitts. Anisimova's production is inferior by the numbers but more effective and she knocks the Italian's head back repeatedly before booming a hard uppercut on the jaw. Ugh! Camila takes a few steps back and has to accept a go-around which only fuels Amanda's response and the younger blonde eventually takes advantage of the superior reach to pound Giorgi back to the ropes where she keeps her under wraps for remainder of the round.

Round 2:
Another quick start from Camila who simply wants to take her opponent's head off at all cost. The slugging assault proves successful at first as she knocks the younger blonde back before a desperate heave from the back foot enables Anisimova to come back at the aggressive Italian. Both women follow through upstairs where Giorgi shakes off a couple of nasty licks to haul in a double combo on the chin. She drives Amanda back to the ropes where she unloads more head-hunting wrath forcing the youngster to clinch her into safety. However a couple of gut-checking bombs allow her break free just before the bell and she scythes the fellow blonde across the mouth at the last second to claim the round on merit.

Round 3:
Amanda tries to let Camila through and pounce on the counter-attacking route which isn't the best idea given the size advantage. Giorgi takes advantage of the tactical error and lands more crisp shots on target until she traps the American on the ropes where she plugs into her midsection as well. Anisimova finally regains her mojo when she tags the Italian's temples from each side but still has a hard time stretching her elbows while Camila blows into her chest and drops another scything cross on the lips. Ugh! Amanda wobbles to the side but holds off a jabbing rally and clocks the older blonde over the tpp before beating Giorgi to the punch thereafter. Camila leans forward to meet a rare uppercut on the jaw and yelps in pain when Anisimova lands a vicious hook on the nose seconds before the bell.

Round 4:
The leggy American finally dominates the early exchange and glues the older blonde to the spot while thumping more leather over the top. Camila refuses to adjust her plan and heaves one proper bomb after another only to miss the target and struggle with Amanda's response. The superior reach makes a difference and allows Anisimova to bump Giorgi around the area before a right-on-right blast wobbles the Italian off balance. She slumps on her heels and fails to embrace a slugging drive that reels her butt-in-ropes with Anisimova working a harpoon attack to carve visible marks in the Italian's midsection. Camila sags on the ropes with a whimper and has to clinch the American late on. She gives the youngster a lenghty stare at the bell but the Indian Wells crowd feels like she's peaked during this fight already.

Round 5:
Camila ignores the warning signs and prefers to step into her shots again but she struggles to overcome Amanda's high-guard and eats a belting cross on the solar plexus that drops her into quiet spasms. She's unable to hold off another left/right double before Anisimova FLOORS her with a booming hook on the exposed jaw. Uh-oh!!! Camila crashes down on her backside and even if this knockdown can be blamed on her footing, she still cuts a shaky figure when she gets back onto her feet at seven. Amanda moves on to clobber her up the middle and enjoys another dominant spell thumping the older blonde on each temple before driving another vicious harpoon on the solar plexus! Ugh! DOWN GOES GIORGI AGAIN!!! The proud Italian drops to her knees and bends her head against the canvas... she's visibly hurting now and fails to beat the count as the ref waves it off at eight when he realizes it's all over. KO5 Amanda Anisimova!!!

AFTER: Amanda might come from the East Coast but still enjoys a warm reaction from the Californian crowd. She's almost too polite checking up on the fallen opponent who indicates she's doing OK... save for the blow to her pride! Camila's crowd-favorite status remains unchallenged whereas the partisan ESPN crew is uncertain whether Amanda can follow this big result with a string of consistent performances come the new season. Talent and upside is only one side of this coin and the verdict is still out whether she can deliver on all her promise!

Official Result: Amanda Anisimova def. Camila Giorgi KO5. Tennis score was 6-4, 6-1.