There is a new couple in Russian tennis! The love story of 22-year-old Anastasia Potapova and Alexander Shevchenko is not even a year old; At least, it was made public only in 2023. Suspicions arose in February, when in an interview with “Championship” the Russian mentioned that she was not free.
“I don’t want to reveal my cards, especially in an interview. If I do this, it will be beautiful, unexpected. But maybe all will be revealed soon. You won’t have to wait long. Let’s put it this way: an athlete.”
Interview with Anastasia Potapova:
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“I’m not a free girl, but the attention is flattering.” Potapova dispelled rumors after her debut in the top 30
At the same time, she dispelled all suspicions about her relationship with the Hungarian tennis player Marton Fucsovics, with whom the girl was noticed more than once in the world: first as a couple at an exhibition tournament in St. Petersburg at the end of 2022. Then , in one of the Pro Tour matches, Nastya sat on a young boxer.
“We were in close contact even before St. Petersburg, approximately since 2019. But this is not what everyone thought. I declare it officially. This is just friendly support. Nothing unites us except friendship. And it never connected. So I hope all the rumors dissipate. And people will put an end to this story and remember that we are friends.”
All questions disappeared as soon as joint photographs and the corresponding signatures of players and fans of the Pro-tour with congratulations began to appear on the Internet – this is what Nastya was talking about. “It wasn’t like Sasha somehow made a move. Through communication everything came to this. And neither I nor Sasha had any questions. He is very good. Igor Andreev calls him “sun”. “Just a very kind person.”
Alexander Shevchenko and Anastasia Potapova
Photo: From Potapova’s personal archive.
There was various evidence of this. When Alexander lost in Doha, he visited Nastya in Dubai at night. Then the girl got sick and did not leave the house, so Shevchenko appeared at the door with soup. “I didn’t insist. I understand everything, because I am a tennis player. It was nice. The sicker she was. And the reason was: “How are you sick and I will be there?” Man”.
The situation was repeated at the 250 series tournament in Linz. According to the tennis player, Sasha did not even sit in the box, but in the usual stands; They tried to keep the relationship a secret to maintain at least some confidentiality and not spread. “Then she took it and left the tournament. Few people can do that, especially when you play on tour yourself. He didn’t make it to the beginning, but to the quarterfinals. I mean, we could talk about one day.” But Potapova accepted it.
Like everyone else on the professional circuit, the boys have known each other since childhood: from the age of nine they traveled to almost the same tournaments: Tennis Europe 12, 14, 16 years old. “Everything absolutely arose from friendship. We have always been very close friends and at some point after Australia 2022 we realized that this was probably more than just a friendship. And somehow they started to develop it.” It turns out that they lasted a year in this “incognito” mode.
In relationships, Anastasia said, she values mutual understanding and communication; This is the only way to find balance. “I am in favor of adaptation and conversation. These are my principles. We have common themes, understanding, we sacrifice everything equally: when I go for something, when he does it. It is not easy for athletes to form relationships and there will always be sacrifices while playing the sport. It’s great to find someone who is willing to do this – to take responsibility. I apreciate it”.
Anastasia Potapova and Alexander Shevchenko
Photo: From Potapova’s personal archive.
And today the couple announced that they were engaged: they modestly posted a photo of them together with a ring on Anastasia’s ring finger. The guys have already been congratulated by colleagues and friends: the tennis player and girlfriend of Denis Shapovalov, Mirjam Björklund, Anna Kalinskaya, Kamilla Rakhimova, Evgenia Kanaeva, Elena Radionova, Dinara Safina.
Both players have so far achieved their maximum in these aspects: Potapova became the 21st racket in the world and champion of two tournaments at the WTA level: she won the 250 in Istanbul and the Linz tournament in the same category, and also came first in the championship race among Russian women in the middle of the year. Shevchenko made a breakthrough in the ATP rankings: she was ranked 83rd and also won the Challengers on Spanish clay in Madrid and on hard courts in Tenerife, Spain.
