Anastasia Potapova could play Mirra Andreeva in the final of the Madrid Open this year.
Potapova was not expecting to be anywhere near the final in Madrid, as she had lost in qualifying to Sinja Kraus.
Since then, Potapova has beaten the likes of Elena Rybakina, Karolina Pliskova and Jelena Ostapenko to become the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal.
Potapova is now one win away from the Madrid Open final, where she could play against Andreeva, who she is full of praise for.
Anastasia Potapova reveals what her relationship with Mirra Andreeva is like
Potapova has represented Austria since December last year, but has a link to Andreeva as a Russian-born player.
After beating Pliskova 6-1, 6(4)-7, 6-3 to reach the semifinals of the Madrid Open, Potapova was asked about her relationship with Andreeva and what she thought of the teenager’s tennis.
Potapova was full of praise for the newly turned 19-year-old, claiming that she ‘can be the greatest’.
“Well, I know her so well. We [are] actually good friends. We talk a lot,” Potapova said about Andreeva in her post-match press conference. Also with her parents, such lovely people. She is so talented. She’s so young.
“We just played a final a week ago, what can I say? She already is a little champion, and I just want to wish her all the best. I’m rooting for her all the time with all my heart.
“I can only say good things. If you expect me to say something bad, it won’t ever happen, because I really think she can be the greatest. She has it all, and I would be just happy for her. And if we can [the] play final, it will be very beautiful.”
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What is Mirra Andreeva’s Head-to-Head vs Anastasia Potapova?
If they were to both reach the Madrid Open final then it would be a fifth meeting between Andreeva and Potapova.
Andreeva beat Potapova in the Linz Open final just over two weeks ago, and now leads the head-to-head 3-1.
The teenager has beaten Potapova on every surface now, with Andreeva’s only defeat coming at the 2022 Jasmin Open in Monastir, Tunisia, when she was just 15 years old.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 2022 | Jasmin Open (R32) | Potapova beat Andreeva, 6-3 6(4)-7 6-3 |
| 2023 | Wimbledon (R32) | Andreeva beat Potapova, 6-2 7-5 |
| 2025 | US Open (R64) | Andreeva beat Potapova, 6-1 6-3 |
| 2026 | Linz Open (F) | Andreeva beat Potapova, 1-6 6-4 6-3 |
Potapova will need to overcome a big hurdle if she is to reach the Madrid Open final, with Marta Kostyuk standing in the way.
Their head-to-head is currently 2-2, but Kostyuk has won their two most recent meetings, including at the Madrid Open last year.
Andreeva also faces a challenge of her own, as she now faces a semifinal opponent in Hailey Baptiste, who has already beaten Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open this year.
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