The 16-year-old tagger upsets world number 221

Lilli Tagger, just 16 years old, delivered a remarkable test of talent this week at the ITF W35 tournament in Santa Margherita di Pula, near Cagliari, Italy.

The young woman from Lienz, who is coached by the former French Open winner Francesca Schiavone, only had to narrowly admit defeat to the top seeded Belgian Hanne Vandewinkel in the round of 16 after successfully qualifying.

Tagger even won the first set 6:3 against the current number 221 in the WTA ranking. However, the East Tyrolean then lost the following two rounds against her four-year-old opponent 2:6, 4:6.

Vandewinkel won an ITF W50 tournament in the Czech Republic in August.

Tagger missed the ÖTV generational duel

Tagger also missed an ÖTV generational duel. Vandewinkel will now face Julia Grabher in the quarter-finals, who clearly wins against sixth-seeded Dutchwoman Eva Vedder 6:2, 6:4.

Like Tagger, Grabher, who is looking to catch up after her wrist injury, also fought her way through qualification.

Tagger almost doubles her total score

Tagger scored four WTA points in Santa Margherita di Pula by reaching the round of 16 and increased her total points to 10 points after the first fourth international adult tournament of her career.

This means that it will be able to improve by over 100 places from position 1,291.

Austria’s tennis hopes rest on these women