A teenager Jannik Sinner called ‘very talented’ has made her first WTA Tour-level final at the age of 17.
The WTA Tour is brimming with teenage talent, with the likes of Victoria Mboko and Mirra Andreeva arriving on the scene in 2025.
Alexandra Eala looks to be the next WTA breakout star, but a 17-year-old has also asserted themselves on the tour before the end of 2025.
After being tipped for success by Jannik Sinner, a rising talent has reached the final of the Jiangxi to confirm their first-ever WTA-level final.
Lilli Tagger reaches first WTA-level final
Tagger has been in tremendous form at the Jiangxi Open, where she has defeated Tamara Korpatsch, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and Zhu Chenting as a wild card.
The star’s hopes of reaching the final at the tournament looked all-but-lost when she went 5-2 down in the deciding set, but the teenager rallied back.
The 17-year-old survived three match points, before winning five games on the bounce to confirm her first-ever WTA final.
The teenager will play World No. 72, Anna Blinkova, in the final after she defeated Dominika Šalková to confirm her place.
“It’s quite tough to talk right now, I’m shaking!” said Tagger after the match. “It was a tough comeback, but I think I handled it very well.”
“She played an amazing match today, but especially at the end it was an amazing feeling,” she added. “I think if you would ask me if I would play a final here this week, I would say no it’s too early.
“I couldn’t think about it and standing here right now, it’s an amazing feeling and I can’t wait to play tomorrow.”
Tagger’s appearance in the final makes her the third player under the age of 18 to reach the final at her first WTA-level event after Donna Vekic in Tashkent and Olga Danilovic in Moscow.
What Jannik Sinner said about Lilli Tagger
It should be no surprise that Tagger has already asserted herself on the WTA Tour as she’s been tipped for success by one of the best players in the world in Sinner.
Speaking to Sport Krone, the World No. 2 described Tagger as a ‘very talented player’ after watching up close what the Austrian can do.
“[She] has a great team behind her with Schiavone as her coach,” he explained. “She also has a good mentality. She simply goes onto the court and plays. I am a big fan of hers.”
Tagger is now based in Italy, close to where Sinner trains, so he’s seen exactly what the Austrian can do on the tennis court.
