Huge statement! Tagger in Prague Final
The ÖTV talent beats the former top-ten player with a great performance.
Lilli Tagger xxxxxx
In the semi-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Prague, the 18-year-old xxxx against Barbora Krejcikova with 5:6, 6:3, 7:6 (4).
The ÖTV talent started the first set better, breaking her opponent for 3:2 and then consolidating it. She remained faultless on her own serve for a long time within the first set. However, Krejcikova gradually grew stronger.
Tie-break in the first set
The Czech stayed in contention until 5:4, then managed to break the Austrian and secured her third consecutive game for a 6:5 lead. Tagger leveled the score again, sending the set into a tie-break.
Kejcikova won this 7:5 – securing the first set after almost an hour.
Tagger levels the match
In the second set, the momentum shifted back in favour of the ÖTV player. The game proceeded game by game until Tagger led 3:2, but then the 18-year-old achieved the break for 4:2.
She then secured her two service games, winning the second set 6:3.
Strong start to the final set
Krejcikova took a considerable amount of time during the set break. But this did not unsettle Tagger at all – on the contrary. The player from Lienz managed to get the break at the beginning of the third set.
Afterwards, the match proceeded quite evenly at a high level. Tagger conceded the break for 2:2 and narrowly missed the immediate re-break.
High Level
With her strong one-handed backhand, which proved increasingly stable throughout the third set, Tagger constantly troubled the former top-ten player. However, the Austrian still couldn't secure the second break of the set. Krejcikova made it 4:3, Tagger leveled.
The next three games all ended quite quickly. Both Tagger and Krejcikova seemingly focused on their own serves. Thus, the Czech led 6:5, meaning Tagger had to win her own service game.
Thanks to her strong backhand – and her eleventh ace – the ÖTV youngster managed to do so. Thus, it went to a tie-break for a place in the final.
Tie-break for the win
There, Krejcikova immediately took a 2:1 lead with the first mini-break.
Tagger strongly returned Krejcikova's serve for a re-break (2:3), after which the Austrian leveled at 3:3 and then took a 4:3 lead due to an error from the Czech.
With another ace for 6:4, Tagger secured three match points – and converted the first one for the win!
