Lilli Tagger wins French Open Junior Girls’ Title, makes history as first Austrian
In a sensational display of dominance and poise, Lilli Tagger etched her name into the history books on Saturday by becoming the first Austrian to win the French Open junior girls' singles title, defeating Great Britain’s Hannah Klugman 6-2, 6-0 in a one-sided final on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
Just 17 years old and unseeded, Tagger stormed through the draw without dropping a set, toppling four seeded players including world No. 1 Emerson Jones, in what will be remembered as one of the most commanding junior campaigns in recent Roland Garros memory.
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A Historic Moment for Austria
Tagger’s victory marks a landmark achievement in Austrian tennis. Not only does she become the first Austrian girl to lift the trophy at Roland Garros, but she also does so with a clean sweep of top-tier opponents. Her run included wins over:
- No. 3 Jeline Vandromme (Belgium) – First Round
- No. 12 Julia Stusek (Germany) – Third Round
- No. 1 Emerson Jones (Australia) – Semifinal
- No. 8 Hannah Klugman (Great Britain) – Final
A Star is Born – and coached by a champion
Tagger has been working with 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone since October 2023. Fittingly, 15 years after Schiavone's title run, her protégé now triumphs in the same city — and on the same surface. Like Schiavone, Tagger plays a rare one-handed backhand, a shot she committed to after a childhood bet with her coach during a local U12 tournament.
“She’s the queen of the clay,” Tagger said of Schiavone. “She told me to enjoy the moment, stay calm, and focus on my goal. That helped me more than tactics.”
This victory builds on Tagger’s fast-rising profile in 2025. Earlier in March, she captured her first pro-level title at the W35 ITF event in Terrassa, Spain — defeating Loïs Boisson, who would later make a surprise semifinal run in the women’s main draw at Roland Garros.
Tagger was also a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open juniors, making her current win a clear indicator of her upward trajectory.
In the girls’ doubles final, Eva Bennemann and Sonja Zhenikhova, another unseeded pair, pulled off a dramatic comeback win over third-seeded Czech twins Alena and Jana Kovackova, 4-6, 6-4, [10-8], capping off a thrilling day for underdogs in Paris.
What’s Next for Tagger?
With a Grand Slam junior title and a pro trophy in hand, Lilli Tagger’s transition to the WTA tour now seems inevitable. Her mental maturity, clay-court prowess, and Schiavone-guided development make her one of Europe’s brightest young prospects heading into the second half of 2025.
SportsLigue