Jeļena Ostapenko faces Anastasia Potapova in the third round of the Madrid Open. The Latvian hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to her clay-court swing but delivered a solid performance to defeat Simona Waltert in the second round. Potapova, a lucky loser in Madrid, has already played three matches to make the third round and will be eager to maintain her form on Sunday.
Jeļena Ostapenko vs Anastasia Potapova Match Details
Date: April 26, 2026
Tournament: Madrid Open 2026
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: La Caja Mágica, Madrid, Spain
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Category: WTA 1000
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, TSN
Ostapenko vs Potapova Head-to-Head History
These two players have met twice, with Ostapenko winning both matches. Their last meeting came on clay in Rome two years ago, and the 2017 French Open winner won in straight sets.
But it is Potapova who heads into this third-round match with momentum on her side. The Russian-born Austrian has started her clay-court season on a high note, reaching the final in Linz, where she lost in three sets to Mirra Andreeva.
Potapova was beaten by fellow Austrian Sinja Kraus in three sets in the Madrid Open qualifying but replaced Madison Keys in the main draw as a lucky loser. Courtesy of the American’s ranking, Potapova received a bye in the first round. She claimed a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over Zhang Shuai to secure her place in the third round.
Ostapenko has endured a frustrating season so far in singles and enters this match with an 11-10 win-loss record. She started her clay-court swing by losing to Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the quarterfinals in Linz, before suffering another narrow defeat to Andreeva in the first round in Stuttgart.
Ostapenko vs Potapova Prediction and Pick
Even with the doubles being her main focus, Ostapenko remains a capable player in singles with two clay-court titles to her name. Her aggressive approach and clean ball-striking ability make her a tricky player to face on clay, especially when she is on top of her game.
The key for her will be to avoid making unforced errors and keep her composure in the face of adversity.
Potapova is in fine form at the moment and has shown her clay-court prowess over the last few weeks. After a strong run in Linz, she will be keen to pull off an upset against the 21st seed in what could be a hard-fought baseline battle.
The player who can dictate the rallies and gain an early foothold on the match could well have the advantage down the stretch.
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The PFSN Tennis Simulator is expecting a tight contest, giving Ostapenko a 52% chance of coming out on top. We believe that this match could go down to the wire, with Ostapenko winning in tight straight sets.
Pick – Ostapenko in straight sets.
