Potapova tops Pliskova in Madrid to become 1st 'lucky loser' in semifinals at a WTA 1000-level event

MADRID (AP) — Anastasia Potapova dropped to her knees, put both hands on her face and started crying.

The “explosion of emotions inside” came after the 56th-ranked Austrian became the first “lucky loser” to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal by defeating Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3 on Wednesday at the Madrid Open.

She almost gave up the victory, squandering three match points in the second set and having to overcome a 1-3 deficit in the decisive set.

“I (had) a few match points in the second set, on serve, but I couldn't manage my nerves at that time,” the 25-year-old Potapova said. “It seems that this tournament keeps giving me second chances and I keep using them. So yeah, supper happy.”

The Russian-born Potapova said she got a huge boost when her boyfriend, Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor, arrived to watch.

“I was a little bit gone mentally in the third set. I didn’t believe in myself at that moment,” she said. “But big respect to my boyfriend who came just on time. He saved me. He kept telling me, ‘You can do this, we are all together here, just keep going.’”

Potapova said Griekspoor is “not scared” of telling her anything and deserved some credit for her victory.

“I just played, and mentally he kept me there,” she said. “It just happened at the such important moment, and it gave me a lot of energy. Mentally, I think he got this match. I did it physically. He did it mentally."

She will face either Linda Noskova or Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the final.

Potapova got into the main draw as a lucky loser despite losing her second qualifying match in Madrid. She became the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 or Tier I semifinal since the Tier format’s inception in 1990, according to the WTA.

Potapova went on to win four straight matches, including against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the round of 16.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect myself being in the draw again because at first they didn’t take my name as a lucky loser,” she said. “And then the days kept on going and nobody was injured or pulling out. Then the last moment I got the information, literally 30 minutes before the match, that I was given a chance to step on court here again.”

She said she had been just enjoying “some nice days” in the Spanish capital, with no expectations.

“Maybe that’s the key, you don’t need to be always so zoomed in and so locked in on the tournament,” Potapova said. “Maybe it’s just a matter of sometimes just enjoy yourself and enjoy the journey, and maybe that’s how the results can also come.”

She said it feels like “a miracle” to have made it all the way to the semifinals.

"It’s pretty rare when you get the second chance and that you go almost all the way until the end,” Potapova said. “But also at the same time I always say, if you got it, maybe you deserved it. So I did work hard. Also, you know, anyone can get a second chance, but how many of those will actually take it? So I’m happy that I didn’t waste it, and I was able to convert it and to be here now.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic reacts during her match against Anastasia Potapova of Russia during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

Anastasia Potapova of Russia returns the ball to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

Anastasia Potapova of Russia reacts during her match against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

Anastasia Potapova of Russia reacts during her match against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

Anastasia Potapova of Russia returns the ball to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers signed the fifth-year option on quarterback Bryce Young’s rookie contract on Wednesday, keeping the 2023 No. 1 pick with the team through the 2027 season.

General manager Dan Morgan first mentioned on SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio” that he was planning to sign the contract and later confirmed to the The Associated Press that he had signed the deal.

Under the terms of the fifth-year option, Young would make $29.5 million for the 2027 season. However, Morgan repeatedly has said the team is pleased with Young's progress and the goal would be to sign the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama to a long-term deal, although the team still has plenty of time to get that done.

Young is set to cost $12 million under the Panthers' salary cap this coming season.

Young, who turns 25 in July, is just 14-30 as the team’s starting quarterback, but he is coming off his best season, posting career highs in yards passing (3,011), touchdown passes (23) and completion percentage (63.6%) while leading the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time to 2017.

Carolina lost 34-31 to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card game.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

FILE - Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young celebrates after scoring against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game Jan. 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

FILE - Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) looks on before an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)