Citi Open 2024: Taylor Townsend vs Anastasia Potapova preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Taylor Townsend vs (9) Anastisia Potapova
Date: July 31, 2024
Tournament: Mubadala Citi DC Open
Round: First Round
Venue: Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, Washington
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $142,000
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel (USA) | TSN (Canada) | Sky Sports (UK)
Taylor Townsend vs Anastisia Potapova preview
World No. 78 Taylor Townsend will take on Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the Citi Open on Wednesday.
Townsend has made a promising start to the season with third round appearances in the Miami Open and the Charleston Open. She also reached the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, where she lost to Anna Kalinskaya in a three-set bout.
The American will enter Washington on the back of early exits in the Bad Homburg and Wimbledon. Despite a vailant effort against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, she fell to the Russian in London, 7-6(4), 6-1. Townsend will be keen to turn things around at the Citi Open.
Meanwhile, Anastasia Potapova has made an impressive start to the season by chalking up 19 wins from 34 matches, including a run to the semifinals in Birmingham. She also reached the quarterfinals in Linz, Brisbane, and at Indian Wells, where she lost to Marta Kostyuk in straight sets.
The Russian will enter the Citi Open on the back of early exits in Eastbourne and London. Despite winning the first set against Bernarda Pera, she bowed out of the first round of the Wimbledon Championships, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(6). Potapova will no doubt be eager to get back to winning ways in Washington.
Taylor Townsend vs Anastasia Potapova head-to-head
Potapova leads the head-to-head against Townsend 2-0. She defeated the American most recently in the 2023 French Open.
Taylor Townsend vs Anastisia Potapova odds
Odds will be updated when available.
Taylor Townsend vs Anastasia Potapova prediction
Taylor Townsend showcased her resilience by entering three main tour events via the qualifiers this year. Known for her prowess in women's doubles, the American has been working on finding her range in the singles competitions as well. She captured her second doubles title of the year at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and is poised to make her mark in women's singles.
Potapova on the other hand has been knocking on the door of her third WTA title for the past few months. Apart from a semifinal run in Birmingham, she also reached the fourth round in Paris, where she lost to Iga Swiatek. The Russian likes to play an aggressive brand of tennis and is known for her flat groundstrokes off both wings.
The Washington crowd can expect an entertaining battle between the duo in the first round. Considering their results on the singles circuit and record on hard courts so far, Potapova will be the favorite to come out on top. Townsend has the pedigree to present a stern challenge to the Russian but might run out of gas to pass this test in the first round.
Pick: Potapova to win in three sets.