Anastasia Potapovas impressive US Open run ends in tears after heartbreaking injury
When the match ended Monday, with an injury playing a role in Anastasia Potapova’s U.S.Open dreams ending, the 25-year-old wiped away tears while she walked toward the net.Her opponent, Mirra Andreeva, who aided her after Potapova suffered an injury in the final set, gave her a big hug while the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium showered them in applause.“Nastya, she’s my good friend.
Seeing what a battle we had and in the last game seeing her fall like this, it’s not easy,” Andreeva said during her on-court interview after the match.“I can’t imagine what she’s going through and when I remember I have goosebumps on my body.
“It’s not the way obviously you want to finish the match, or you want to see one of your good friends finish the match.I just told her that she’s been playing amazing so far, she’s been having one of the best seasons.
I’m sure that she’s going to come back even stronger because she’s a warrior.I think that she’s even a better fighter than me.”The lower-body injury Potapova battled through before ultimately losing in the fourth round provided a rough ending to a bittersweet tournament for the youngster.Potapova, the world No.
25, made headlines in the third round when she downed 2025 finalist Amanda Anisimova in straight sets.That win — which included a debate over whether she had mocked her conquered foe with a hand wave celebration that Potapova contested was instead meant for a friend — put her one victory away from her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.Potapova took the first set 7-5 against Andreeva before falling 6-4 in the second to set up a dramatic third stanza.But she received a cruel blow when her left knee seemingly gave out on her while she ran to her right to return a volley while trailing 5-3.Andreeva immediately ran over to check on a crying Potapova, helping her to her feet.Potapova limped off the court to sit on the bench and received treatment before returing.Andreeva, 19, w...