Anastasia Potapova is back in the winner’s circle! The Russian star clinched her third career WTA title at the 2025 Transylvania Open, overcoming Lucia Bronzetti in a dramatic three-set final, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, in Cluj-Napoca on Sunday.
Despite being the tournament’s top seed, Potapova had to battle through a rollercoaster match, shaking off an early collapse before taking complete control in the final two sets.
A Hard-Fought Final: From Sloppy Start to Total Domination
Potapova looked to be cruising early, leading 4-2 in the first set, but a string of unforced errors allowed Bronzetti to flip the script. The Italian snatched the opener 6-4, leaving Potapova frustrated at her missed opportunities.
But that wakeup call sparked a ruthless response.
🔥 Second Set: Potapova broke twice and stormed to a dominant 6-1 win, barely facing resistance on her serve after the first two games.
🔥 Third Set: She broke Bronzetti again at 4-1, finally converting on her sixth break point, before closing out the match 6-2 to seal the comeback victory.
This marks Potapova’s first title of 2025, following wins over Viktorija Golubic, Ella Seidel, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and Bronzetti—an impressive run that sees her cement her place inside the WTA Top 40.
Off-Court Struggles, On-Court Redemption
Potapova’s personal life has been turbulent in recent months, as she opened up about the emotional toll of her divorce from fellow pro Alexander Shevchenko. Despite the challenges, she found a way to keep competing at a high level, turning personal pain into on-court triumph.
“Despite everything, I clung onto the last bits of my sanity, walked out on the court and played matches, and I wasn’t even doing that bad,” Potapova admitted in a recent interview with Bolshe.
Her 2024 season didn’t match the highs of 2023, but this title proves she’s ready to push forward and reclaim her best form.
No Doha for Potapova—Focus Shifts to Next Challenge
Unlike Karolina Pliskova, who made a quick turnaround for Doha, Potapova has opted to withdraw from the WTA 1000 event, skipping a scheduled match against Daria Kasatkina.
Instead, she will take time to rest and regroup before setting her sights on bigger events later in the season.
The Verdict: A Title-Winning Comeback with Bigger Goals Ahead
With her first trophy of 2025 secured, Potapova sends a strong message to the WTA field—she’s not going anywhere.
The question now is: Can she carry this momentum into the bigger WTA 1000 events and finally make a deep Grand Slam run?
