Anastasia Potapova reached the US Open fourth round for the first time by defeating No. 10 seed and 2025 runner-up Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-5. The 1-hour, 39-minute victory gave Potapova a career-best run in New York and removed one of the women's draw's leading American contenders.
The scoreline looks controlled, but the second set demanded a different kind of performance. Potapova had to absorb Anisimova's attempt to raise the pace, protect her advantage and close the match without allowing it to become a three-set fight.
How Potapova beat Anisimova
Potapova established the match on her terms in the opening set. She took time away from Anisimova, defended with enough depth to avoid leaving short balls and converted pressure into a 6-2 lead.
Anisimova offered greater resistance in the second set. The American has the first-strike power to change a match quickly, particularly when she can step inside the baseline. Potapova's challenge was to keep the rally neutral long enough to stop that pattern from becoming automatic.
At 7-5, the second set was far closer than the first. Potapova still found the points she needed late, completing the upset in straight sets rather than carrying the physical and emotional cost of a deciding set into the next round.
Why this run matters for Potapova
Reaching the last 16 at a Grand Slam is not simply another ranking result. It shows that a player can reproduce her level across three rounds while adjusting to different opponents, court conditions and expectations.
Potapova had never previously reached the fourth round at the US Open. New York's quick hard courts can suit her ability to redirect pace, but they also punish inconsistent serving and rushed shot selection. Her progress suggests a better balance between controlled aggression and patience.
The next match will bring another tactical reset. At the time of publication, Potapova was due to face the winner of the match between No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva and Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova. Readers should check the official draw for the confirmed opponent and schedule.
What went wrong for Anisimova
Anisimova arrived with the status of a top-10 seed and the memory of her run to the 2025 final. That history raised expectations, but it could not solve the immediate problem of Potapova's cleaner start.
When a powerful baseline player falls behind, the temptation is to shorten points even further. That can produce a rapid comeback, but it can also increase errors if the opponent continues returning with depth. Potapova never allowed the match to become a simple hitting contest on Anisimova's preferred terms.
The defeat does not erase Anisimova's standing as a major hard-court threat. It does show how little margin exists in the second week of a Slam, where one opponent's disciplined 90 minutes can outweigh seeding and previous success.
The wider US Open picture
Fourth-round play begins on September 6, with the men's and women's singles fields moving from 32 players toward the quarter-finals. The reduced field changes the rhythm of the tournament: matches receive more attention, recovery becomes increasingly important and the possibility of facing a seeded opponent rises.
The women's draw also carries a live battle for the world No. 1 ranking. That adds significance to every upset because one result can change both the championship route and the ranking scenarios.
Our US Open 2026 schedule and viewing guide explains the tournament calendar. Readers can also follow our recent reports on Coco Gauff's fourth-round progress and Naomi Osaka's injury-interrupted win.
The WTA's official report confirms the result and next-opponent scenario. Visit the Sports section for continuing US Open coverage.
