Anastasia Potapova opens up on ‘finger-breaking’ backhand in win over Elena Rybakina

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Anastasia Potapova produced one of the standout results of the Madrid Open on Monday, defeating world No.2 Elena Rybakina in straight sets. The victory marked a significant upset, with the Austrian sitting 54 places below her opponent.

Despite the 2-0 scoreline, the contest was far from straightforward. The opening set proved especially tense, going to a tie break that tested both players under pressure.

Potapova eventually edged it in remarkable fashion, delivering a moment of brilliance that shifted momentum. That single point became one of the defining highlights of the match.

Anastasia Potapova jokes about painful backhand after stunning tie-break point

Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Speaking after the match, Potapova reflected on the extraordinary backhand that helped her seal the first set. The shot came at 9-8 in the tie break, as she stretched and fell to the court.

Even off balance, she struck cleanly and gave Rybakina no chance, making it 10-8 with a clinical winner. The point underlined her composure and instinct in a decisive moment.

Potapova later admitted the effort came at a physical cost and explained how little time she had to process the situation before reacting.

“I don’t know [how I did it]. I nearly broke all of my fingers, my knee was bleeding. I think these moments are just like, you don’t think of what you do, you just do it, your body does what your brain wants,” she began by saying.

“I’m thankful that I didn’t have time to think about it too much and that I’ve just done it.”

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