New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- Anastasia Potapova has never gone past the third round in New York. On Saturday at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 24th seed tore that ceiling down. She beat last year's finalist Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-5 to reach the last 16 of the US Open for the first time.

The American 10th seed, who reached the 2025 final here before losing to Aryna Sabalenka, never found her range. Potapova, now representing Austria, was the clearer, cleaner player from the first game. A place in the second week is hers.

Amanda Anisimova arrived as a heavy favourite. She had dropped a set to Austria's Lilli Tagger in the second round, then closed that match 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. This time the slump came earlier and lasted longer.

Anastasia Potapova br...