NEWS
Difficult Start: Tagger Masters First Qualifying Round in Cincinnati
The 18-year-old loses the first set decisively but then stages a comeback.
Lilli Tagger advances to the second qualifying round in Cincinnati!
In the first round of qualification for the WTA 1000 tournament, the Lienz native (WTA-46) defeated Lin Zhu (WTA-138) with scores of 3:6, 6:1, 6:1.
However, the ÖTV hopeful experienced a remarkably poor start. After Tagger was broken at the first opportunity, she trailed 0:3. She could not recover from this in the first set and lost 3:6.
From Zero to Seven Aces
In the second set, however, the favourite managed to turn the match in her favour. After Tagger failed to hit any aces in the first set, she managed seven in the second. Her first serve, in particular, was back on point. As a result, the 18-year-old levelled the score with a 6:1 in the second set.
The third set – much like the first – started off quite contested. However, Tagger broke Zhu to go 2:1 up and subsequently extended her lead to 4:1 with a second consecutive break.
The Austrian held onto her lead. With a 6:1 in the final set, Tagger advanced to the second qualifying round. There, the top seed in qualification will face ÖTV player Julia Grabher or Robin Montgomery (USA).
