By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, July 29, 2022
Anastasia Potapova thrashed top-seeded Anett Kontaveit 6-1, 6-1 to power into her third straight semifinal in Prague today.
Photo credit: Getty
Anastasia Potapova settled a score continuing strong summer surge.
Ousted by world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit in the Hamburg semifinals on red clay last week, Potapova dispensed resounding retribution today.
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The 21-year-old Potapova crushed Kontaveit 6-1, 6-1 in a 49-minute thrashing to power into her third straight semifinal in Prague today.
Potapova converted five of six break points advancing to her fourth semifinal of the season.
In a commanding serving performance, Potapova served 74 percent, dropped just six points on serve and did not face a break point scoring her second career Top 5 victory. Potapova improved to 17-11 on the season.
In April, Potapova was ranked No. 122 when she played through qualifying to capture her first career championship on the red clay of Istanbul. Today's triumph propels Potapova to a career-high rank of No. 54 in the live rankings.
Potapova plays for her second final of the season when she faces either Magda Linette or Wang Qiang in tomorrow's semifinals.
Seventeen-year-old Czech wild card Linda Noskova continued her impressive run to her first WTA semifinal.
Noskova held a 6-3, 4-2 lead over Nao Hibino when the Japanese lucky loser retired with an injury.
Playing just her second WTA Tour-level main draw, Noskova fought off world No. 38 Alize Cornet in a pulsating two hour, 22-minute victory yesterday. She backed it up with a confident performance today.
A year ago, Noskova was ranked No. 520. With today's win, Noskova cracks the Top 100 rising to a career-high No. 93 in the live rankings.
Noskova will play eighth-seeded compatriot Marie Bouzkova for a place in the final.
Bouzkova blasted through seven straight games sealing a 6-3, 6-0 sweep of 170th-ranked qualifier Oksana Selekhmeteva.