Anastasia Potapova delivered a commanding performance at the US Open on Saturday, defeating last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova 6:2, 7:5 in the third round at Flushing Meadows, according to match reports. The straight-sets victory inside the Louis Armstrong Stadium propels the 25-year-old into the second week of the New York major, securing her place in the fourth round after 98 minutes of play.
A Breakthrough Display in Flushing Meadows
Playing on the second-largest court at the facility in Flushing Meadows, Potapova established control early. Records of the match show she faced six break points during her opening service game alone before breaking Anisimova to take a 2:1 lead in the first set. Capitalizing on unforced errors from her opponent, Potapova extended her advantage with another break to make it 5:2, comfortably closing out the opening frame.
The statistical breakdown highlighted Anisimova’s struggles with consistency, as the American committed 19 unforced errors in the first set alone and finished the match with 46 overall. Despite reaching the finals at both Flushing Meadows and Wimbledon the previous year, Anisimova found herself tested throughout the tournament, having dropped a set in the previous round against 18-year-old Lilli Tagger, according to tournament accounts.
Nail-Biting Momentum Shifts in the Second Set
The second set brought chaotic baseline exchanges and fluctuating momentum, featuring four consecutive breaks of serve at the start. Anisimova attempted a resurgence behind her powerful backhand, finally converting her tenth break point of the match to level the score at 1:1.
Neither player could hold serve reliably until the latter stages of the set. Potapova broke once more to lead 5:4 and stepped up to serve for the match. Although Anisimova fought back with a resilient rebreak to level at 5-all, Potapova immediately broke right back. She secured the victory on her first match ball when Anisimova sent a final groundstroke long, sealing the contest after one hour and 39 minutes.
Path Forward and Historical Significance
The win marks only the second time in three career meetings that Potapova has defeated Anisimova. Furthermore, it advances the competitor to her third career Grand-Slam fourth round, having previously reached that stage at Roland Garros in Paris in 2024 and 2026, as noted in tournament records.
Looking ahead to the next round, Potapova will face the winner of the third-round clash between fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva and Nikola Bartunkova.
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