Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina fell to a shock 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 defeat by Anastasia Potapova on Monday in the Madrid Open fourth round.
In the day’s late match, Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, the World No. 2, was shocked by her 56th-ranked opponent.
Both players secured two breaks in the first set before Potapova edged Rybakina in the tie-break.
In the second set, Rybakina captured her fifth break point of a long fifth game to nose ahead, but lost the eighth and 10th games as Potapova triumphed.
“I’m speechless, I’m extremely happy, it was such a tough match and tough opponent,” said Austria’s Potapova. “My team helped me today, they were there for me, big thanks (to them).”
Zverev progresses
In the third round of the men’s draw, second seed Alexander Zverev won in straight sets against Terence Atmane, and Alexander Blockx earned a surprising win against world number five Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Two-time former Madrid champion Zverev, ranked third in the world, showed his quality as he defeated Atmane 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to reach the fourth round.
Serving well, Zverev kept the Frenchman at arm’s length in the first set with two breaks.
The second was closer, with Atmane battling well, and Zverev spurned two match points before triumphing in the tie-break.
Young Belgian Blockx, ranked 69th in the world, caused a shock with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 victory over Canadian Auger-Aliassime, his first win against a top-10 player.
“I had so much confidence,” he explained. “I didn’t even think about panicking or losing my serve. I was playing well in the rallies, too, so I knew even if I missed a few serves, I could play the rallies.”
Published on Apr 28, 2026