MUTUA MADRID OPEN

April 29, 2026

Anastasia Potapova

Press Conference

A. POTAPOVA/K. Pliskova

6-1, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Anastasia, well played. From a lucky loser all the way to your first semifinal to a WTA 1000. How are your emotions right now?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, it feels great, I wouldn't lie. Yeah, I've been given a second chance, and I've been using it very good. Yeah, it actually can happen in tennis, so that's why I think it's one of the most beautiful sports we have. If I was given it, maybe I deserve it, so, yeah, I'm very happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've obviously had done really well with your second chance. I guess, from a pressure standpoint, coming into today's match, how did you feel coming into it in terms of pressure? And then, as the match went on, did that pressure sort of change when she brought it into like a third set?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Yes, I think you saw with your own eyes what was happening through the whole match. Obviously I started very strong. I came out, I had nothing to lose. I didn't know what to expect from her because she's a very dangerous player. She can serve so well. She hits hard. She can hit all the lines. Yeah, as I said, I just went out there, and I just wanted to enjoy with my game first and not to look on the other side. I think I've been doing it pretty well through the whole first set. I think it was one of my best sets I've ever played.

Second set was a bit more tougher because she started to serve better. She stopped missing some easy balls. But I think I also did it well until some score, that's where I couldn't handle my nerves. But I also got to say, I've never been in this position in my career. It's for the first time when I'm set up in such an event, quarterfinal, serving for the match. And it's not easy. I think you need to be here a few times to understand it, to learn it, and to get through it.

But, yeah, as I said, seems like this tournament keeps giving me a second chances, and I got my second chance in the third set. And this one I knew I'm not going to give it away. So, yeah, I just got it.

Q. I know you talked about this a bit, but I'm curious what was your reaction I guess emotionally after you lost in qualifying? I imagine that was a match you thought you should be winning. So how did you react to this, and how did you get your head ready for the first round?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, I had pretty tough week coming to play in Madrid. I cannot say I was fully ready. I didn't have the proper recovery days because I didn't have time for it after Linz.

Also, it was a little bit unfortunate in the second round of the qualifying, the weather, just everything around what's going on this match just didn't help me.

I just let it go. I had beautiful two days off in Madrid. I love Spain. I had good food, my family was here. I was really enjoying it. To be honest, I didn't expect myself being in the draw again because at first they didn't take my name as a lucky loser. And then the days kept on going and nobody were injured or pulling out. Then the last moment I got the information, literally 30 minutes before the match, that I was given a chance to step on court here again.

I cannot say that I was preparing for something, I was not at all. But I was trying just to recover and to have some nice days. But maybe that's the key, you don't need to be always so zoomed in and so locked in on the tournament. Maybe it's just a matter of sometimes just to enjoy yourself and enjoy the journey, and maybe that's how the results can also come.

Q. Your kind of game suits all the courts. But could you consider yourself a specialist on clay? You play hard and take risks.

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Yes, I agree. I think I can adapt very well on the surface. I think I showed it in the past years that I can also do great things on hard courts, I can also compete on grass, I can compete on clay. I think that what makes me dangerous player sometime, if I can say that, because I know how to adapt, I know I have different tactics for different surfaces, it's true. But, yeah, I think also one of the keys is that I know how to play in defensive mode, you know, when I need to defend. So, yeah, I think it helps on clay especially.

As you said, in general I try to be pretty aggressive player. But I also know how to back up and just make rallies.

Q. How did the win against Rybakina influence on your confidence? Could you speak a little bit about that, about maybe going to the final in Linz. Also, all these things, do they change a little bit your feelings about your abilities for the moment, and considering that all the first-seeded players are out, do you have in mind to win it all now?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: I mean, of course I'm here not just to think that I want to lose the next match. Now of course I want to go all the way down. But I don't want to even think about my next steps. For the moment I want to enjoy my win today and don't even think about tomorrow's match, it's too early. It's okay, I've got time to think about future.

Talking about Linz, of course it was such a booster of the confidence. But as I said, I was coming here not with the crown on my head or something; I was pretty humble. I knew I was playing well, but it's completely different circumstances. It's altitude. It's outdoor, first of all I played indoors. I knew it's not going to be easy. But of course, with any athlete, with every win you get more, you get your head more higher and higher.

Of course, this win against Rybakina, what I can say? She is one of the best now. She lost, what, two, three matches this year only. Of course I feel incredible after this. Of course I started to believe in my game even more. Of course I have thoughts now, why it could not be me. Like, I don't see the reason. I just want to keep working hard and to see where it all goes.

Q. What was it like suddenly hearing Tallon's voice, and does he have a future in coaching?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: I think he has bright future in coaching, we knew it before this match. Yeah, as I said, he came just on time to save me. Yeah, the support he has, it's unbelievable. He believes so hard. The things what he can say, like I don't think anyone can say that during the match, because he doesn't afraid. Like, he's not scared of me. He can tell me literally like anything.

And today, yeah, he just told me to shut up, to keep on working, to start working with my legs. And that we are both here together in this match, I'm not just by myself. It just happened at the such important moment, and it gave me a lot of energy. And, yeah, I mean, mentally, I think he got this match. I did it physically. He did it mentally. So it's nice.

Q. Regarding the match today, I wanted to ask about one specific moment. So Karolina was up 3-2 in the third and serving, I think leading 40-15 and you got the break back, winning four straight points. Curious, was there anything in that moment, given how frustrating the match was going for you at that point, that kind of switched tactically for you to get those points and then just win the rest of the games?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, yes, as I said, in the third set I started to lose it a little bit mentally. I was talking way too much to myself, to my box, spending too much energy on some words which I shouldn't do it. I just should have just locked in and fight for every point.

But at that moment exactly that's when I heard to shut up and start to work. So, which I did. I just started to be more quiet, started to move my legs better. I got little bit lucky. She double faulted as well. She had some unforced errors. But I got to say, it was not that easy to serve because it was pretty windy, and the wind was going inside and going like round. It was not easy to serve at all.

Yeah, I just tried to stay focused, and doesn't matter what the score is, to keep on fighting, and, yeah, I think that's how I got my chances back.

Q. In our eyes, on the one hand, it's a kind of miracle that you are here now in this position. On the other hand, it's like well deserved because of the four wins in a row. In your head, how could you describe this or separate these feelings or mix these feelings?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, I do think it's a miracle. It's pretty rare when you get the second chance and that you go almost all the way until the end.

But also at the same time I always say, if you got it, maybe you deserved it. So I did work hard. I also, you know, anyone can get a second chance, but how many of those will actually take it? So I'm happy that I didn't waste it, and I was able to convert it and to be here now.

Q. The other surprise in the tournament is Mirra Andreeva. What you think about her performance? Are you friends, are you working sometimes together? What do you think about possible Russian final?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, I know her so well. We actually good friends. We talk a lot. Also with her parents, such lovely people. She is so talented. She's so young. We just played final a week ago, what I can say? She already is little champion, and I just want to wish her all the best. I'm rooting for her all the time with all my heart. I can only say good things. If you expect me to say something bad, it won't ever happen, because I really think she can be the greatest. She has it all, and I would be just happy for her. And if we can play final, it will be very beautiful.