“Crazy. Honestly“: Lilli Tagger reaches final in Prague

Eighteen-year-old Austrian tennis player Lilli Tagger has advanced to her second career final at the WTA 250 tournament in Prague. Tagger achieved this milestone by defeating the highly experienced Barbora Krejčíková, a two-time Grand Slam champion ranked world No. 26, in a grueling semifinal match that lasted nearly three hours.

The match was a dramatic affair, with Tagger ultimately prevailing 6:7(5), 6:3, 7:6(4). Tagger expressed her disbelief and joy after the victory, stating, "Crazy. Honestly, at the moment I can't believe I won. I'm super happy." She admitted to feeling nervous before the match, having seen Krejčíková play just three weeks prior at Wimbledon, but focused on playing point by point to secure the win.

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Crazy. Honestly, at the moment I can't believe I won. I'm super happy.

Tagger demonstrated remarkable resilience, quickly recovering from the disappointment of losing the first set. She fought back strongly in the second set, securing a crucial break and serving it out to level the match. The deciding third set saw Tagger again break early, and despite losing the lead, she maintained her composure. She saved multiple break points before ultimately winning the tiebreak with her eleventh ace, converting her first match point at 6:4.

This victory underscores Tagger's significant progress in professional tennis. Her powerful groundstrokes and improved serve were evident throughout the match, challenging the more seasoned Krejčíková. Tagger's performance against a player of Krejčíková's caliber highlights the considerable potential of the young Austrian, who is coached by Francesca Schiavone.

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It was an incredible fight, she played great tennis. I saw her three weeks ago at Wimbledon and was a bit nervous before the match.