Anastasia Potapova has turned tennis heartbreak into history by becoming \u2060the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final after her thrilling 6-1, \u200c6-7(4), 6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova at the Madrid \u200cOpen on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Russian-born Austrian, who lost \u200cin qualifying last week, has capitalised on her \u200cunexpected main draw entry, stunning former world number \u200cone Pliskova<\/a> in a roller-coaster clash<\/a> despite squandering three match points.<\/p>\n Potapova<\/a>‘s run has included impressive victories \u200cover former French Open champion Jelena \u2060Ostapenko<\/a> and world \u200cnumber two Elena Rybakina<\/a>.<\/p>\n When asked if she thought she \u200bwould be in the final four after that qualifying loss, the unseeded Potapova \u200bsaid: “No, I wouldn’t, for any money and anything.<\/p>\n “That’s what makes our sport beautiful. I was \u2060given a second \u200bchance and now I’m here.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m super happy. There\u2019s nothing better that could happen to me in my life at the moment.”<\/p>\n After cruising through the \u200copening set, Potapova appeared destined for a straightforward victory when she earned three match points in the second.<\/p>\n But Pliskova clawed back to force a tiebreak and level the match.<\/p>\n Potapova trailed 3-1 in the decider, only to reel off five consecutive games and seal victory with her 10th ace before collapsing to her \u200cknees.<\/p>\n “I was given a few match points in \u200bthe second set on serve. I couldn’t \u200cmanage my nerves at the time, I know that,” Potapova said.<\/p>\n “But it seems like this tournament keeps giving me second chances and I keep using them.”<\/p>\n