Anastasia Potapova becomes first lucky loser to reach WTA 1000 semifinal in Madrid

Key facts

• Potapova is the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 or Tier I semifinal since the Tier format began in 1990.
• She defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 in 1 hour 54 minutes.
• Potapova led 6-1, 5-3 and held three match points in the second set before Pliskova forced a decider.
• She won the last five games from 3-1 down in the third set.
• Potapova had previously beaten Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina in the main draw.
• She is the first Austrian to reach a WTA 1000 or Tier I semifinal since Sybille Bammer at Indian Wells 2007.
• Potapova lost in the final round of qualifying to Sinja Kraus, who then lost to Pliskova in the first round.

A second chance seized

Anastasia Potapova collapsed to her knees on the clay of the Manolo Santana Stadium after sealing a 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Karolina Pliskova at the Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday. The win makes her the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 or Tier I semifinal since the category's inception in 1990. Potapova, 25, had lost in the final round of qualifying to Sinja Kraus three weeks after reaching her first WTA 500 final in Linz, where she fell to Kraus 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3. But a withdrawal from the main draw gave her a second chance, and she has now posted three straight wins over former world No. 1s or Grand Slam champions: Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, Elena Rybakina in the fourth round, and Pliskova in the quarterfinals.

A rollercoaster quarterfinal

The match lasted 1 hour and 54 minutes and swung dramatically. Potapova dominated the first set, taking it in just 24 minutes. She then led 5-3 in the second set and held three match points on Pliskova's serve, but the former world No. 1 saved them and forced a tiebreak, which she won 7-4 to level the match. In the deciding set, Pliskova took a 3-1 lead, but Potapova responded by reeling off five consecutive games. She sealed victory with her 10th ace, then dropped to her knees in disbelief. "Not for any money or anything," Potapova said in her on-court interview. "That's what makes our sport so beautiful. I was given a second chance and now I'm here, I'm speechless, I'm super happy and, well, there is nothing better that could happen with me in my life at the moment."

Historic milestone for Austrian tennis

Potapova, who represents Austria, becomes the first player from that country to reach a WTA 1000 or Tier I semifinal since Sybille Bammer at Indian Wells in 2007. Ranked No. 56 in the world, she had never advanced this far at a tournament of this caliber. Her run has included upsets of three former top-10 players, and she has shown remarkable resilience after the disappointment of her qualifying loss. The irony is not lost: Kraus, who defeated Potapova in qualifying, lost to Pliskova 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the main draw.

What lies ahead

Potapova will face 26th seed Marta Kostyuk in the semifinals. Kostyuk, of Ukraine, defeated Czech 13th seed Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 in the quarterfinals. The match presents another opportunity for Potapova to extend her remarkable run. In the men's tournament, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner reached the Madrid semifinals for the first time, securing his 21st consecutive victory. His presence adds to the growing narrative of a tournament full of surprises.

The bottom line

• Potapova is the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, a historic feat in women's tennis.
• She overcame a 3-1 deficit in the deciding set against Pliskova, winning five straight games.
• Her path included wins over Ostapenko, Rybakina, and Pliskova — all former top-10 players.
• She represents Austria, becoming the first Austrian to reach this stage since 2007.
• Potapova's run began after a qualifying loss, highlighting the unpredictability of tennis.