Lilli Tagger, the 18-year-old Austrian tennis sensation, has once again made headlines with her impressive performance at the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. In front of her home crowd in Linz, Tagger pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6(5) in a thrilling two-hour match. This victory marks a significant milestone in Tagger's rapid rise to the top of the tennis world.
What makes Tagger's achievement even more remarkable is the fact that she is just 15 rankings spots below Badosa, who is currently ranked No. 102. Tagger's win is her first career victory over a Top 10 opponent, and it came in just her third WTA main draw appearance. Her previous two main draw appearances resulted in a final in Jiujiang last October and a WTA 1000 win in Miami, where she saved a match point against Ella Seidel.
Tagger's journey to the top has been nothing short of extraordinary. Just one year ago, she was ranked No. 566, and her greatest junior successes were yet to come. Last summer, she claimed the Roland Garros girls' title and the junior No. 1 ranking, showcasing her exceptional talent and potential. One of her standout skills is her single-handed backhand, which she utilized effectively against Badosa, especially in crucial moments.
The match itself was a testament to Tagger's versatility and determination. In the first set, Tagger showcased her aesthetically pleasing style, firing winners from both her forehand and single-handed backhand, tallying 27 winners in total. She also demonstrated her prowess at the net, winning 10 out of 15 points. However, Badosa mounted a strong comeback in the second set, raising her level and breaking Tagger's serve to tie the match at 5-5.
Despite Badosa's late charge, Tagger remained composed and focused on her game. She came up with crucial winners to break again and take a 6-5 lead. Although she had the match in her grasp, Tagger struggled to close it out, sending a backhand wide on a break point. However, her approach to the match remained unwavering, and she found her rhythm in the tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, Tagger demonstrated her ability to adapt and protect her serve efficiently. She won the first four points behind her serve, showcasing her consistency and mental fortitude. Badosa served well throughout the tiebreak, but Tagger's solid one-two punches kept her ahead. With the match on the line, Tagger didn't blink. She slammed an unreturnable serve and held firm as Badosa committed errors, ultimately ending the match.
Looking ahead, Tagger will face No. 3 seed Liudmila Samsonova in the next round. This will be her second career encounter with a Top 30 player, following her loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Miami second round. Tagger's performance in Linz has undoubtedly solidified her place as a rising star in women's tennis, and her future success in the sport is highly anticipated.
