Anastasia Potapova has spoken out after facing significant backlash online, following a moment during her US Open fourth-round win against Amanda Anisimova on Saturday.
What happened
Potapova, who represents Austria, defeated Anisimova in straight sets to book her place in the next round. After the players shook hands at the net, courtside cameras caught Potapova appearing to wave, which many viewers assumed was directed at Anisimova, interpreting it as a sarcastic "bye bye" gesture.
How fans reacted
The clip quickly drew criticism online, with viewers describing it as disrespectful and questioning whether the behaviour was typical of Potapova, with some saying there was little excuse for it regardless of the intensity of the moment.
Potapova's explanation
Responding on Instagram, Potapova said she'd received an overwhelming number of questions about the wave, explaining that she was actually waving to a friend who had been sitting in the crowd supporting her throughout the match. She pushed back on the reaction, saying people were making a bigger deal out of the moment than necessary, while acknowledging that some people would criticise her regardless.
Not everyone was convinced it was controversial
A number of viewers came to her defence following the clip, arguing the gesture clearly wasn't aimed at Anisimova, pointing out that Anisimova was already walking past by the time Potapova looked toward the stands. Others accused critics of manufacturing controversy where none existed, noting that Potapova, now equalling her best Grand Slam result, was simply celebrating her win like any other player would.
What's next for Potapova
The 25-year-old will next face Mirra Andreeva, the reigning French Open champion, in the following round. Anisimova has not yet commented on the moment.
