Potapova Reaches US Open Fourth Round with Straight-Sets Win over No.10 Seed Anisimova

Anastasia Potapova has just sent a clear message to her side of the draw at this year’s US Open. Not only did she stop No.10 seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-5, she did it with a composure that was almost surprising. For the first time this season, the Russian reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam. That achievement did not come from a sudden flash of brilliance, but from the way she managed the match like someone who had been waiting for a long time to step into the light. From the stands at Louis Armstrong Stadium, this match was more than a battle between an unseeded player and a former finalist. It was a dialogue of shots, where Potapova kept asking questions and Anisimova could not find the answers. The first set ended 6-2, but more important was the way it was built. Potapova returned deep, moved wide, and gave her opponent little chance to hit a dominant forehand. She did not try to force spectacular winners, she simply kept the ball in play and let Anisimova make the errors. Tennis at the Grand Slam level is often won by the player who makes better decisions, not the one who hits harder. Potapova understands that. In the second set, everything became tougher. Anisimova, a former finalist here, was not going to give away the second set without a fight. She increased her serve speed and attacked more aggressively in rallies, and the match immediately tightened. The score moved evenly to 5-5. At that moment, many began thinking about a tiebreak or maybe a change of momentum. But Potapova wrote a different script. In the 11th game, she found decisive returns and produced the only break she needed. Then she held to close the match 7-5. The fact that the match lasted only one hour and 39 minutes on the US Open hard courts shows Potapova was efficient rather than flashy. At a technical level, that short duration indicates she avoided long, unnecessary exchanges. No detailed statistics were published, such as first-serve percentage or return points won, but based on the flow of the match, Potapova won by controlling where to end the point. She does not have the biggest serve, but she placed it well enough to force weak returns. That gave her control even during the most difficult stages. What makes this win interesting is that Potapova was not exactly in the best form of her career coming into New York. Before this tournament, her season had been quiet. Reaching the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time this season shows she can push past her own limits when the stage is big. In the past, Potapova was seen as a talented young player who lacked consistency. Against Anisimova, we saw a different version: patient, unafraid when the opponent pressed, and ready to exploit a small opening at the key moment. For Anisimova, this is a real disappointment. As the No.10 seed and a player who reached the final here last year, she should not have lost so quietly on a court that holds so many good memories. But top sport is not driven by memory. Anisimova lacked sharpness in important games, especially in saving break points when her opponent began to attack. Although we do not have official numbers, the match narrative suggests she did not stay steady in the longer rallies of the second set. That will be a hard lesson as she moves into the final part of the season. Now Potapova has the right to dream bigger. Her next opponent will be either No.5 seed Mirra Andreeva or Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova. If Andreeva wins, this will be a big test, because she is one of the most promising young players on tour. Potapova will need all the tactical intelligence and patience she showed against Anisimova. If the opponent is Bartunkova, the challenge will be her unpredictability, since a qualifier has nothing to lose. Either way, the most important thing for Potapova is that she has found a way to win against a top player at one of the biggest tournaments. That confidence could carry her past the fourth round. Looking at WTA history, it is not unusual for a player to suddenly catch fire after a breakthrough victory. Potapova has got that victory here. She did not play perfect tennis, but she played tennis that fitted what the match demanded. Against a higher-ranked opponent, she stayed safe, increased pressure return after return, and solved the match at the exact moment her rival was unsure whether to attack or defend. Potapova’s story at this US Open is not over yet. But what she did before Anisimova is enough to remind everyone that her name should never be erased from the list of dark horses. Some players shine on smaller stages, while others only fully live in the atmosphere of Grand Slams. Potapova seems to belong to the second group. After all, elite tennis is not just about speed, power or physical endurance. It is also a race against your own doubts. Against Anisimova, Potapova won that race perfectly. The fourth round will create a new chance. If she takes it, she can turn a quiet season into a summer fairy tale. But no matter how far she goes, this win over a No.10 seed has shown that Potapova is no longer just a player who performs well at minor events. She is ready for the main stage, and the only remaining question is whether she can stay consistent through every round. The next match will provide the answer. As the stands emptied after the win, one image stayed in mind: Potapova did not celebrate wildly, she simply nodded, as if to say her journey at this tournament had only just begun.