#AnastasiaPotapova, who broke through on the international scene as a junior teenage sensation previously, reached two WTA finals last year. Breaking into the top-100, that ensured that Potapova will be able to receive a direct entry into the main draw of a Major for the first time in her career. Her debut at the #AustralianOpen will see her going up against veteran Frenchwoman #PaulineParmentier, who won two WTA titles in 2018.
It was an interesting encounter, and despite coming into the match as the lower-ranked player, Potapova was the slight favourite due to her prospects and she truly lived up to her credentials, setting up a blockbuster second-round meeting with 17th seed Madison Keys, which will most likely be played in one of the bigger courts in the tournament.
The Russian was only broken twice in the 100-minute encounter, winning 74 percent of her first serves and defending 60 percent of her second deliveries. She was playing her usual aggressive style, overpowering her higher-ranked opponent in straight sets after firing 25 winners to 26 unforced errors. Parmentier also attempted to play some high-risk tennis, though it resulted in 31 unforced errors and just 24 winners.
Potapova prevails in the tight first set
The first set saw Potapova stave off three break points in a crucial opening service game which would indirectly decide the outcome of the match. Parmentier would rue her missed chances, considering she committed a forehand unforced error on one of her three break points, while Potapova found winners on her other opportunities.
Both players dominated on their serves but it was the youngster and former junior world number one who made the first, and only, breakthrough of the set in the fifth game. Parmentier failed to survive the marathon, conceding a series of unforced errors to get broken. Potapova then battled back from a 0-30 deficit in the final game to take the first set 6-4.
Potapova seals the impressive comeback
Surprisingly, Parmentier managed to retain her momentum and started the second set with a bang. She saved multiple game points and Potapova was showing some sort of inconsistency in her game, being broken for the first time in the afternoon. However, the Russian played a perfect return game and fired consecutive winners to break straight back and return level on the scoreboard, grabbing eight straight points in the process.
Parmentier experienced a surge in momentum and the adrenaline pushed her forward — rattling off 12 of the next 16 points to claim a commanding 5-2 lead which made a deciding set inevitable. It seemed as though Potapova was playing with fire as she continued to give us surprises, firing on all cylinders on her forehand wing as she dictated play with some inspired tennis.
A tricky 12th game saw Potapova having to serve to stay in the set down 5-6, and she definitely felt the pressure and nerves weighing on her shoulders. A couple of nervy errors highlighted the youngster’s lack of experience, but she made it up with some terrific play as she saved a set point to send the set into a tiebreak.
The tiebreak was equally as tight as the match, with only one of the 12 points going the way of the returner. It was Parmentier who first crumbled under the pressure, who conceded the match to Potapova after an hour and 40-minutes of play.
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