While Anastasia Potapova fought fiercely in Madrid, her boyfriend, Tallon Griekspoor, showed what mental support really looks like.

On April 30, Potapova’s journey towards the semifinal victory was derailed by a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 victory in 1 hour 36 minutes. But at some point, when the situation took a toll on her, Griekspoor’s support did not waver.

“You need to believe in yourself,” Griekspoor assured. “Baby, you are the better player, but you have to believe it. Let’s go. We need your best energy. Let’s go, come on.”

From the very beginning, Kostyuk held the reins firmly, winning the first set 6-2. Though Potapova's 21 unforced errors contributed to that win, she roared back in the second, winning it 6-1 with aggressive tennis.

As Kostyuk struggled with her spin and consistency, there were shimmers of hope for Potapova. But the Ukrainian shifted the momentum, breaking Potapova’s mental strength. And that’s when Griekspoor’s support came through.

However, it ultimately couldn’t help Anna win the match. But afterwards, Potapova revealed what that support meant to her.

Tallon Griekspoor’s Support Impacted Anastasia Potapova

Once Kostyuk regained her game and started putting Potapova under mental pressure, half the game was won there. Anna held for 4-1, but failed to convert three break points. Even so, Griekspoor’s support did help.

“To be honest, I was a little bit gone mentally in the third set”, she admitted. “I didn’t believe in myself at the moment. This is the first time I’m going to say it, but big respect to my boyfriend, who came just on time.”

“He saved me just in time,” the 25-year-old added. “He kept telling me, ‘You can do this. We’re all together here. Just keep going.’ In the third set, it was most of his job… I just played, and mentally he just kept me there.”

The defeat ended Potapova’s run in the Madrid Open for this year. But knowing the support she has in her life, do you think she’ll come back stronger in her next game? Comment it down.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Souvik Roy