Anastasia Potapova battled past Clara Tauson 2-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 after 2 hours and 41 minutes to reach the second round at the Porsche Indoor Grand Prix in Stuttgart, a WTA 500 tournament.
Tauson broke twice in the third and seventh games to win the first set 6-2.
Tauson saved three break points in the second game of the second set to hold serve at deuce. Potapova converted her second break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Tauson broke straight back in the fifth game for 2-3. The Danish player held serve in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Potapova saved two break points in the seventh game to hold for 4-3.
Potapova saved a match point at 7-8 down to win the final three points to prevail in the tie-break of the second set.
Potapova went up a 3-0 with a double break in the third set. Tauson pulled one break back on her third opportunity. Potapova earned her third break in the fifth game and held serve at love to race out to 5-1 lead. Tauson pulled another break back in the eighth game to reduce the deficit to 3-5. Potapova sealed the win with another break on her first match point.
Tauson converted five of the nine break points she earned, but it was not enough to win the match.
Potapova has improved her seasonal record to 13-6. She won a title in Cluj Napoca.
Potapova leads 2-1 in her head-to-head matches against Tauson.
It was the 21st main-draw match of 2025 won from match point down.
Potapova set up a second round match against world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
