Daria Kasatkina.Credit: Getty Images
Potapova revealed last month that she would no longer represent Russia and was instead changing to Austria, continuing a trend of players defecting from that country, following Kasatkina (Australia), Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva (both Uzbekistan).
Kasatkina and Potapova shared a warm handshake after the match.
“Obviously, everyone’s got their reasons. I mean, we see everything that’s going on,” Kasatkina said.
“I honestly don’t know if there are more coming or not because everyone keeps these things as a secret until the last moment. There have already been a lot of girls who switched. So, maybe yes, maybe not.”
Tournament organisers handed Kasatkina the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, and the Brisbane crowd gave her a rousing welcome as she entered, which is why her emotions almost spilled over.
She has spoken several times in the months after her defection how she was adjusting to that newfound support.
That backing only increased as Kasatkina’s match reached its climax, including a huge roar from the crowd after she broke back in the ninth game of the final set, then again as she walked out to serve. However, an elementary forehand miss left Kasatkina in a 0-40 hole, and the match was over a point later.
The 28-year-old was left to rue her many double faults, which often came at crucial stages, including three in the second game of the third set that put her on the back foot.
“If you’re struggling with this, it makes your game a nightmare sometimes, but I’ve been working for a long, long time. It’s always mental,” she said.
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“Even though I did 16 double faults, they were not like the double faults I did last year, when sometimes you’re just hitting the beginning of the net. I mean, those double faults [today], were not too bad.
“They say you get one shot from God, and all other shots you have to work on. So, yeah, my serve has definitely not come from God.”
Another naturalised Australian, Croatian-born Ajla Tomljanovic, cruised past Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 6-3 to set up a tough second-round clash with 11th-seeded Czech star Karolina Muchova.
“I’m very happy, especially [because] it’s been a while since I’ve been in Brissy playing,” Tomljanovic said.
“I love that I have so many memories here, and it’s one of my favourite places to do well, so to get a ‘W’ in the first match of the year is always special, and I’d love to have a great summer in Australia.”