Madrid, April 28, 2026 Potapova defeats Rybakina in Madrid WTA 1000
Russian tennis player Anastasia Potapova pulled off a stunning upset against world No. 2 Jelena Rybakina in the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, securing her spot in the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 7:6(8), 6:4 victory.
Comeback Victory Seals Quarterfinal Berth
Potapova started strong with an early break but soon found herself trailing 3:5 in the first set. The 25-year-old rallied to force a tiebreaker, where she saved a set point before clinching the opener 8-6 in the tiebreak. She carried the momentum into the second set, breaking Rybakina’s serve late to seal the match in straight sets.
"I had luck that I got a second chance and I'm happy that I could use it," Potapova said after the match, quoting in German: *"Ich hatte Glück, dass ich eine zweite Chance bekommen habe und bin glücklich, dass ich sie nutzen konnte."* The win marks her fourth career quarterfinal appearance at a WTA 1000-level event.
Rybakina, the tournament’s second seed, struggled to contain Potapova’s aggressive baseline play despite her higher ranking. The Kazakh player had been favored to advance but was unable to capitalize on her first-set lead.
Quarterfinal Showdown Against Pliskova
Potapova will next face former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, who advanced with a straightforward 6:4, 6:3 win over Argentina’s Solana Sierra. Pliskova, known for her powerful serve, has been in strong form this season and presents another tough challenge for the Russian.