Anastasia Potapova advanced to the Madrid Open semifinals after defeating Karolína Plíšková 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 in the quarterfinals. According to r/tennis, Potapova became the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, a milestone that caps an improbable run through the draw.
Potapova's path to the last four included a fourth-round upset over second-seeded Elena Rybakina, whom she beat 7-6(8), 6-4. The Russian player entered the tournament as a lucky loser after initially missing the draw's random selection for two available spots, but secured entry when another player withdrew.
The quarterfinal against Plíšková tested Potapova's composure. She had three match points in the second set while serving for the match but failed to convert them before eventually taking the tiebreak. Potapova steadied herself in the third set to close out the victory and advance to the semifinals.
The Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event, ranks among the tour's most competitive tournaments outside the Grand Slams. Potapova's run from lucky-loser entry to the final four underscores the unpredictability of elite tennis and the depth of talent competing at the highest levels of the women's game.