Anastasia Potapova ends 2026 season due to injury

World No. 25 Anastasia Potapova has announced the end of her 2026 tennis season due to physical issues. The decision follows her retirement during a first-round match at the China Open against Sinja Kraus, where a right shoulder injury forced her to stop after five games.

Potapova stated on social media that her body has been providing increasing signs that she needs to rest, noting, “For me, that’s the clearest sign that I need to take a break, give my body the time it needs to recover, and come back stronger.” She indicated she intends to return for the 2027 season.

Despite the injury-forced conclusion, 2026 was a significant year for the Austrian player. She climbed from a ranking of No. 97 to a career-high of No. 25, reaching the fourth round at both Roland Garros and the US Open, the semi-finals in Madrid, and her first WTA 500 final in Linz.