[1][2] Born in Bloemfontein, Potgieter was raised on a farm near Petrusville, Northern Cape.

She attended Eunice High School in Bloemfontein and played collegiate tennis for Texas A&M.

Competing briefly in professional tennis, she attained best rankings of 632 for singles and 410 for doubles.

In 2010 she was a member of the South Africa Fed Cup team, winning one singles and two doubles rubbers.

Her sister Elzé has also played Fed Cup tennis for South Africa.