Potapova vs. Anisimova: First-Strike Fireworks at the US Open

Welcome to the New York hard courts, where the stadium lights are bright and mid-match drama is practically mandatory. Amanda Anisimova, the number 10 seed, steps into the spotlight to defend a finalist-level run and prove her summer resurgence is permanent. Standing across the net is the 24th-seeded Anastasia Potapova, a player desperate to survive her own chaotic form and reach the second week of the US Open for the very first time.

Amanda’s Backhand is Back in Business

Anisimova is officially bringing the heat again, even if she occasionally unplugs her own momentum mid-match. Her run in Cincinnati proved that her explosive 2025 level is intact, highlighted by a clean win over Linda Noskova and a gritty comeback from a set and a break down against Alexandra Eala. She even pushed Jessica Pegula to a final-set tie-break after trailing by two breaks, showing that her reunited partnership with coach Hendrik Vleeshouwers is repairing her emotional thermostat.

Her US Open campaign has been a lethal highlight reel with a few minor bloopers mixed in. She comfortably dispatched Ashlyn Krueger with a masterclass in early ball-striking, only to give Lilli Tagger a massive window in the second round after a double fault sparked a frustrated collapse. The good news for the loud home crowd is that Anisimova immediately woke up, blasted a few forehands, and completely seized control of the decider.

Surviving the Grind and Second-Serve Nightmares

Potapova is currently playing tennis like a woman trying to escape a maze blindfolded. Her North American swing was a messy sequence of abrupt exits, including a rough loss to Sloane Stephens where double faults and a highly vulnerable second serve ruined any chance of momentum. She managed to right the ship slightly with a controlled, attacking win over Venus Williams in Washington, but stability remains completely absent from her summer resume.

Her path through the New York draw has been an absolute emotional rollercoaster as the last remaining singles player from her national delegation. After a clean opening win against a late-replacement lefty, Potapova barely survived Léolia Jeanjean in a bizarre, error-heavy match where she repeatedly secured early breaks only to instantly give them back. She complained about distracting crowd movement on the outside courts and admitted to feeling physically and mentally awful, but she still managed to dig out a massive hold at 3-3 in the third set to steal the win.

First-Strike Fireworks and Baseline Ping-Pong

This tactical matchup boils down to who commands the center of the court and gets to pull the trigger first. Anisimova wants to plant her feet, take the ball exceptionally early, and fire flat lasers off her elite backhand wing. If Potapova’s second serve continues to float into the box like a friendly exhibition toss, Anisimova will step inside the baseline and end the point before the Russian even completes her split-step.

To survive, Potapova has to execute the Pegula blueprint and force her American opponent to hit while moving laterally. She needs to change direction, toss in some varied height, and drag Anisimova into uncomfortable, extended rallies without overplaying and feeding her own massive error count. The older head-to-head records mean absolutely nothing here, because this match will be decided entirely by who actually consolidates a break when the scoreboard pressure hits a boiling point.