Anastasia Potapova: Marriage and Tennis in Perfect Harmony

Anastasia Potapova, the world No. 33, recently tied the knot with ATP pro Alexander Shevchenko. The couple's off-season nuptials were followed by a training bloc in Dubai, where they doubled up on their honeymoon.

Potapova, 22, and Shevchenko, 23, had planned to marry by the end of 2023. However, Shevchenko's surprise proposal in September accelerated their plans. The intimate ceremony took place in a hotel room, with the ring hidden under a pillow.

Potapova, known for her bubbly personality, admits to having two sides to her character. While she enjoys the spotlight, she also values her privacy and prefers a quiet life. She finds solace in the serene atmosphere of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

"I like how calm it is here," she says. "I don't like big cities. I've been more outgoing in the past, but now I prefer to stay home and watch Netflix with my dog and my husband."

Potapova and Shevchenko have known each other since they were nine years old. They became inseparable after they started talking, and their relationship has blossomed into a marriage.

"Maybe we're young to be married, but we're athletes and we're more mature than other people are at this age," Potapova reflects. "Since getting married, there's more of a calm in our relationship. We have each other, we're not rushing for anything, and we just try to help each other perform our best."

Potapova's marriage has not hindered her tennis career. After a slow start to 2024, she has regained her rhythm at Indian Wells, where she reached the fourth round.

"I've been struggling a bit before the tournament," she admits. "Somehow, I managed to feel better and now I'm probably in one of the best shapes I've ever been in."

Potapova is not setting any specific goals for herself. She is simply enjoying the journey and the support of her husband.

"Last year gave me a lot of motivation," she says. "I got to the point where I know what I have to do, and now that I've done it once, I can do it one more time—and plenty of times after that!"

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