Major Upset in Madrid: Elena Rybakina Knocked Out by Anastasia Potapova in the Round of 16

The world’s number two, Elena Rybakina, saw her Madrid Open journey come to an end after a surprising defeat in the fourth round.

Facing world No. 56 Anastasia Potapova, the Kazakh star struggled to convert her opportunities, eventually falling in straight sets: 7-6(8), 6-4. The match, which lasted nearly two hours, showcased a fierce tie-break battle where Potapova displayed remarkable resilience.

Rybakina fired 6 aces but was only able to secure 3 out of 10 break points, a low efficiency that proved costly against the Austrian representative. While the loss is a setback for her clay-court season goals, Rybakina leaves Madrid with 120 ranking points and prize money totaling €92,470.

Potapova now advances to face former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinals.