History-making lucky loser Potapova into Madrid semis

Anastasia Potapova has become the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final thanks to her thrilling victory over Karolina Pliskova at the Madrid Open.

The Russian-born Austrian lost in qualifying last week but was given a place in the main draw when another player pulled out.

And she secured a 6-1 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 win over former world number one Pliskova in the last eight to continue her stunning run in the Spanish capital.

Jannik Sinner is through to the last four in the men’s event after securing his 21st victory in a row.

Potapova, 25, had already seen off former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world number two Elena Rybakina.

“No, I wouldn’t, for any money and anything,” said Potapova when asked if she thought a semi-final appearance was possible after her qualifying loss.

“That’s what makes our sport beautiful. I was given a second chance and now I’m here.

“I’m super happy. There’s nothing better that could happen to me in my life at the moment.”

Potapova looked set for a comfortable victory after taking the first set in just 24 minutes before securing three match points in the second.

However, Pliskova fought back to force a tiebreak and then level the match, before taking a 3-1 lead in the deciding set.

But Potapova responded by reeling off five consecutive games and sealed victory with her 10th ace before collapsing to her knees.

She will face 26th seed Marta Kostyuk in the semi-finals after the Ukrainian beat Czech 13th seed Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1) 6-0.

Meanwhile, in the men’s tournament, world number one Sinner is through to the Madrid semi-finals for the first time.

The Italian beat 19-year-old home favourite Rafael Jodar 6-2 7-6 (7-0) in just shy of two hours.

He is bidding for his fifth ATP Masters 1000 title in a row, having won in Paris late last year and already secured the Indian Wells, Miami Open and Monte Carlo titles in 2026.

But the four-time Grand Slam champion was made to work in the quarter-final as Madrid-born Jodar showed why there are such high hopes for what he can achieve in the coming years, going toe-to-toe with Sinner in the second set.

“Tough challenge, I knew before the match that he was going to be very tough to beat, especially here, he’s from here and he knows exactly how to play in these conditions,” Sinner told Sky Sports.

Sinner quickly took control, saving a break point when 2-1 down before reeling off five straight games to win the first set.

The second was much more closely contested though, with Jodar earning break points at 3-2 and 4-3. But each time Sinner held firm.

Jodar saved three break points himself to hold and go up 5-4 and held serve again to ensure at least a tiebreak.

But Sinner showed his class, swiftly holding to love before putting on a masterclass in the breaker, winning it without dropping a point.

“I’ve got a little bit more experience and in the second set got a little bit lucky at times with a couple of lines and net cords,” he added.

“But I tried to keep the level as high as I could… I’m happy with how I ended the match.

“[Jodar] is an incredible player. Spain has one more incredible player so it’s great for the sport.”

Sinner will face Arthur Fils in the last four after the Frenchman beat 11th seed Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 6-3 6-4 in the later quarter-final on Wednesday.