Anastasia Potapova, the luminary of Indian Wells and the 34th ranked Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) player, has been seen rooting for Tallon Griekspoor in his recent matches, sparking intrigue in tennis circles. Griekspoor, who is currently the world No. 43 in the ATP rankings, pulled off a stunning victory against top-seeded Alexander Zverev in a thrilling second-round match, which saw Potapova cheering him on from his box.
Notably, this is not Potapova’s maiden appearance in the audience for a Griekspoor game. The 23-year-old Russian tennis sensation’s presence in the stands comes on the heels of her divorce from fellow ATP player Alexander Shevchenko, to whom she was briefly married. Their whirlwind romance and engagement culminated in a nuptial ceremony in cosmopolitan St Petersburg during the 2023 off-season. However, whispers of a breakup started swirling as early as September, with the couple confirming their split by year-end.
Reflecting on her personal life and the changes it has undergone, Potapova has expressed feeling “lighter” post-divorce. Her on-court performance seems to echo her sentiments, as she triumphed in Cluj-Napoca last month. Nevertheless, it’s not just her prowess on the court that’s turning heads. Her off-court presence, particularly in Griekspoor’s box during ATP tournaments, has been in the spotlight.
Following her second-round exit from the Dubai Championships last month, Potapova was spotted supporting Griekspoor in subsequent tournaments. Being a part of the audience during his Indian Wells match against Zverev, Potapova was visibly thrilled as she witnessed Griekspoor clinch the most significant victory of his career.
While the nature of Potapova’s relationship with Griekspoor is a subject of speculation, what remains evident is that the young tennis star is in a significantly better place, both personally and professionally, post her divorce. Speaking candidly to Tennis, she shared, “I feel like I’m 10 kilos now. I feel very light in my head. I have such big relief, and I’m just really enjoying every day, every moment.”
Further shedding light on her split from Shevchenko, Potapova admitted to Bolshe’s Sofya Tartakova that the end of the year saw her making some monumental decisions. Despite her disappointment with how things turned out, she harbors no ill feelings towards her ex-husband, wishing him the best.
Meanwhile, as off-court speculations continue, Potapova is primed to face Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, in her upcoming match in Indian Wells. This will be Keys’ first appearance following her Grand Slam victory, setting up an exciting showdown for tennis fans.