Lilli Tagger captured her first WTA singles title at the Livesport Prague Open on Sunday, defeating eighth seed Daria Snigur 7-6(3) 6-2 to cap a remarkable breakthrough week in the Czech capital.
The 18-year-old Austrian, who entered the tournament on a wildcard, produced a composed performance in her second career final to climb from outside the top 70 into the world's top 50 for the first time.
Tagger, who trains under former Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone at the Schiavone Team Lab in Varese, Italy, showed immense maturity after a nervy start. Snigur raced to a 5-3 lead in the first set, but Tagger broke back and dominated the tiebreak 7-3 before taking control in the second set.
A sublime backhand winner down the line gave Tagger the crucial break for 3-1 in the second set, and she served out the match in one hour and 32 minutes to spark emotional celebrations on Prague's centre court.
"It means everything to me," Tagger said during the trophy ceremony. "I want to thank Francesca and my whole team, and my parents who came to watch me live for the first time. Everything I have achieved so far is thanks to them."
The Austrian's run to the title was no fluke. She defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova in a three-set thriller earlier in the week, showcasing a powerful baseline game anchored by a devastating one-handed backhand.
Tagger's ranking jumps 29 spots to a career-high No. 45, while Snigur also reaches a new career best of No. 43 after an impressive week that included victories over three seeded players.
Coached by Schiavone — the 2010 French Open winner — Tagger represents the latest success story from the Italian tennis academy system. Discovered by talent scout Massimo Sartori, who connected her with Schiavone, the teenager has drawn comparisons to the former champion for her fighting spirit and all-court game.
"I learned a lot from Jannik and his team too," Tagger told Ubitennis during the tournament, referencing her shared manager with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Austrian also shares Sinner's passion for skiing.
With her powerful groundstrokes, improving movement, and the guidance of a Grand Slam champion in her corner, Tagger looks poised to climb even higher.
Sources
- https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/07/26/wta-praga-la-prima-volta-di-tagger-laustriaca-ditalia-sconfitta-snigur/
- https://www.tennisitaliano.it/a-praga-nasce-la-stellina-lilli-tagger-primo-titolo-wta-per-lallieva-di-francesca-schiavone/
