Tennis: Potapova reaches US Open fourth round after upset win over Anisimova

Anastasia Potapova produced the breakthrough she had been waiting for in New York, defeating last year's finalist Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-5 to reach the US Open round of 16 for the first time.

Austria's top-ranked player made a much stronger start than in her opening two matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium. She saved six break points in her first service game, then broke Anisimova for a 2-1 lead. Potapova continued to exploit her opponent's errors, taking another break at 5-2 to secure the first set.

Anisimova made 19 unforced errors in the opening set and 46 across the match. The former world No. 3, who has yet to find her best form this year, had already dropped a set in the previous round against Austria's 18-year-old prospect Lilli Tagger.

The American briefly recovered in the second set behind her powerful backhand. After missing nine break points, she converted her 10th to level at 1-1. Neither player held serve through 2-2, but Potapova broke again at 5-4 and served for the match. Anisimova immediately fought back with a rebreak, only for Potapova to take her serve once more and convert her first match point after one hour and 39 minutes, when Anisimova sent a ball long.

The victory was Potapova's second in three meetings with Anisimova. It also secured her third Grand Slam round of 16, after previous appearances at the French Open in 2024 and 2026. Her next opponent will be either fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva or Nikola Bartunkova.