A surprising turn of events at the Indian Wells tournament this year saw tennis star Tallon Griekspoor take center stage not only for his exceptional performance but also due to the unexpected appearance of Anastasia Potapova in his camp. Griekspoor’s monumental triumph over top-seeded Alexander Zverev was just a part of the story that unfolded on the court.
The Russian WTA sensation, Potapova, made headlines when she was noticed in Griekspoor’s box, sparking rumors of a possible relationship. This comes shortly after Potapova’s split from her husband of less than a year, the 98th-ranked ATP player, Alexander Shevchenko. Fans had been speculating about the couple’s status since they unfollowed each other on social media platforms in September, with the official announcement of their separation following in November.
The Dutch player, ranked 43rd globally, gave the performance of his life on that fateful Friday, defeating Zverev with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) in a gruelling match that lasted more than three hours. But the whispers about his relationship status with Potapova seemed to steal some of the limelight from his career-defining victory.
Social media was abuzz with reactions to the unexpected pairing. One user captured the sentiment well, tweeting, “Potapova and Griekspoor dating was not on my 2025 Bingo card, but they are both insanely good looking so I’m kinda digging this.”
Reflecting on her separation from Shevchenko, Potapova admitted it was a “shockingly big decision.” In an intimate conversation with Russian tennis journalist Sofya Tartakova, the 23-year-old expressed her disappointment about how things panned out. “That’s life. Unfortunately, things like that happen and you have to accept it,” she said.
Potapova, however, was quick to clarify that there was no animosity between her and her ex-husband. “I really wish Sasha all the best, and he deserves all the best… But I guess we had problems; some couples get over these problems, and some don’t. Unfortunately, we were one of the couples that didn’t,” she confessed.
The young WTA star was known to support Shevchenko during his matches, regularly seen sitting courtside when they competed at the same tournaments. Now, with her presence in Griekspoor’s box, it remains to be seen if this is the beginning of a new chapter, both professionally and personally, for Potapova.