Lilli Tagger is a tennis superstar in waiting.
The Austrian youngster, 18, won her first WTA title on Sunday after beating Ukraine’s Daria Snigur in the Prague Open final.
Tagger roared back from a 2-5 deficit in the first set to eventually triumph 7-6, 6-2 in one hour and 29 minutes.
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She has become only the second teenager – after Mirra Andreeva – to win a WTA Tour-level title this year.
The sky is the limit for Tagger; and she could challenge the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff for tennis’ greatest honours in the near future.
Lilli Tagger is the next WTA superstar
The teenager possesses the ability and traits required to become a top player on the WTA Tour.
The young Austrian already possesses one of the most fearsome shots on the circuit: an electric one-handed backhand.
She also boasts a consistent, powerful serve – one that can do damage against any other player on the WTA circuit.
Tagger’s excellent serve was on full display throughout Sunday’s final. The youngster hit nine aces, won 81 per cent of her first-serve points and – quite remarkably – 79 per cent of her second-serve points.
The former French Open junior champion was once compared to Carlos Alcaraz and Ashleigh Barty; and it is easy to understand why after her spellbinding performances in Czechia over the past week.
Tagger, who defeated Sara Beljek and Barbora Krejcikova en route to the Prague title, has now risen to world number 45 [her highest-ever ranking].
Tagger is now the youngest player ranked inside the top 50, usurping Mirra Andreeva.
| Statistical Area | Tagger | Snigur |
| Aces | 9 | 1 |
| Double faults | 2 | 7 |
| First-serve % | 65 | 70 |
| First-serve points won [%] | 81 | 67 |
| Second-serve points won [%] | 79 | 50 |
Jannik Sinner commented on ‘very talented’ Lilli Tagger earlier this year
“Yeah, I know her actually very well,” Sinner, the ATP number one, said of Tagger during an Indian Wells press conference. “She’s a very talented player. Very talented,” said Sinner.
“Very different than we saw now, especially women’s tennis. She’s someone who likes to play tennis. You see the passion. I think that’s the main thing a player should have.
“Coming from a background like this, I think it helps you mentally a little bit. For me skiing gave me more mentally than maybe having the balance on the court. I think that’s more secondary.
“Mentally for me was, like, skiing you can hurt yourself. In tennis you just go for it. Worst case you lose a match. It’s very different.
“Yeah, she’s in process trying to understand what her game style is really. But that’s also right. She’s very, very young. She had great opportunities to see the level of the top players now in Indian Wells and Miami.
“She goes back home now with good feedback. I think that’s the best for someone very young can happen.”
