Potapova makes history with Madrid Open semi-final run

Anastasia Potapova has turned tennis heartbreak into history by becoming the ‌first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final after ​her thrilling 6-1 6-7(4) 6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova ‌at the Madrid Open ‌on Wednesday.

The Russian-born Austrian, who lost in qualifying last week, has capitalised on her unexpected main draw entry, stunning former ‌world number one Pliskova in a roller-coaster clash despite squandering three match points.

Potapova’s run has included impressive victories over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world number two Elena Rybakina.

When asked if she thought she would be in the final four after that qualifying loss, the unseeded Potapova said: “No, I ​wouldn’t, for any money and anything.

“That’s what makes our ‌sport beautiful. I was given a second chance and now I’m here.

“I’m super happy. There’s nothing better that could happen to me in my life at the moment.”

After cruising through the opening set, Potapova appeared destined for a straightforward victory when she earned ​three ‌match points in the second.

But Pliskova clawed back to force ‌a tiebreak and level the match.

Potapova trailed 3-1 in the decider, only to reel off five consecutive games and seal victory with ‌her 10th ‌ace before collapsing to her ⁠knees.

“I was given a few match points in ‌the second set on serve. I couldn’t manage my nerves at the time, I know that,” Potapova ⁠said.

“But it seems like this tournament keeps giving me ​second chances and I keep using them.”

Potapova will face Marta Kostyuk or Linda Noskova in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Hailey Baptiste ended Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence in Madrid on Tuesday and halted the world number one’s 15-match winning streak with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) quarter-final victory to deliver the biggest shock of the tournament so far.

The American saved five match points at 4-5 in the decider and a sixth in the tiebreak before she handed Sabalenka just her second defeat of the year, and her first since the Australian Open final three months ago.

Sabalenka is a three-time champion in Madrid and reached the final in the Spanish capital in each of the last three editions of the event but was unable to shake off the 30th-seeded Baptiste, who peppered her with huge serves and ultra-aggressive groundstrokes to reach a maiden WTA 1000 semi-final.

Baptiste came up with huge serves in several crucial moments - finishing the duel with a total of 12 aces and 10 double faults - and even saved a match point with a bold serve-and-volley approach on her way to a memorable two-hour 30-minute triumph.

Next up for the 24-year-old Baptiste is ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva, who gave herself an early birthday gift by defeating Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6(7/1), 6-3 to reach her first Madrid semi-final.

The Russian teenager, who turns 19 on Wednesday, was a recent champion in Linz and improved her clay-court record to 11-1 this season.

Earlier in the day, Jannik Sinner suggested the Madrid Open organisers should reconsider their tournament scheduling to avoid late-night finishes like the one Rafael Jodar experienced in the third round on Sunday.

Agencies