Sensational: Potapova fights her way into the tennis semi-finals in Madrid

An “explosion of emotions”

“I’m just super happy,” said Potapova in her first reaction on the pitch. “Things couldn’t be going better in my life at the moment. I’m feeling an explosion of emotions within me right now. This is the tournament of second chances for me – and I’m taking advantage of these second chances. I was already mentally down in the third set.”

The 25-year-old Potapova sensationally won the first set 6-1. The Austrian also managed one more break in the second set and already looked like the winner.

Four match points missed in the second set

Pliskova, the former number 1 in the world rankings, was able to fend off the first two match points, with a double fault Potapova conceded the rebreak to 5:5. But Potapova won the next game as a receiver to zero. Two more match points were the result, but the experienced Pliskova was able to fend off these too. Another break – 6:6. It went to a tie-break, with a double fault Potapova lost the set 6:7.

Right at the beginning of the third set, Potapowa received a break – things didn’t go well at first. But the 25-year-old hit back again and won the match with an ace on the fourth match point: 6:1, 7:6, 6:4.