Lilli Tagger, who is only 17, is noticeably taller than the majority of her colleagues at 185 cm. She has a unique presence on the court because to her long, athletic physique, which naturally translates into leverage and reach. During her serve, the benefits are readily apparent. Few players her age can defend against the sharp angle she creates with each smooth toss. However, she is defined not only by her physique but also by the restraint with which she employs it.
Over the past two years, she has steadily improved her performance rather than making headlines. She entered the $25K Carinthian Ladies Lake’s Trophy main draw in 2023 without much hoopla, and her defeat to Sina Herrmann served as a reminder of the challenge that lay ahead. However, she was participating in the Sharm el-Sheikh doubles final a few months later, displaying early indications of pressure-tolerant behavior.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lilli Tagger |
| Nationality | Austria |
| Date of Birth | February 17, 2008 |
| Age | 17 |
| Height (Größe) | 185 cm |
| Playing Hand | Right-handed |
| Backhand | One-handed |
| Turned Professional | 2022 |
| Coach | Francesca Schiavone |
| Manager | Alex Vittur |
| Highest Singles Ranking | 153 (November 2025) |
| Singles Titles | 1 ITF |
| Doubles Titles | 1 ITF |
| Junior Grand Slam | French Open Champion (2025) |
| Career Prize Money | $72,882 |
| Reference | ITF Tennis official site |
Working closely with her teacher, Francesca Schiavone, she has honed her skills to become more than just a promising player. Schiavone, who is renowned for her spirited play and strategic thinking, appears to have given Tagger a similar discipline as he tackles every match with cool precision. In junior divisions with flamboyant personalities, this method is frequently overlooked, but when the stakes are high, it works incredibly well.
She advanced to Wimbledon’s junior draw in 2024 and put fourth-seeded Tyra Caterina Grant to the test. Despite losing in straight sets, her performance was calm, clever, and never hurried. Her maiden ITF doubles victory, which she shared with Anastasia Bertacchi that same year, subtly demonstrated her versatility.
In 2025, her career took a dramatic change. First, she won the junior singles championship in the French Open, when she won every set. The triumph over Hannah Klugman, 6-2, 6-0, was more than just a victory; it was a declaration. Austria had a junior Grand Slam champion for the first time. For most, that would have been sufficient. Tagger wasn’t done, though.
She switched nearly completely to adult-level competitions by the summer. A final appearance in Amstetten was one of the early failures. However, she soon won back-to-back titles in Bucharest and Kuršumlisjka Banja, which were notable not only for their timing but also for the way she defeated opponents with much more experience and better rankings.
She advanced to the WTA 250 event final in Jiujiang in November. She played against Anna Blinkova of Russia, who is renowned for her aggressive baseline style. Tagger defeated second-seeded Viktorija Golubic in the semifinals, however she lost 3–6, 3–6. Her perseverance and ability to compete at a higher level were demonstrated by the run.
As I watched that final on my laptop, I observed how measured her responses were from one point to the next. Tagger tends to exhale, gathering herself in quiet focus before the next serve, whereas others may pump fists or bang rackets.
She probably has access to a staff that knows what continuous progress looks like because her manager, Alex Vittur, also handles Jannik Sinner. For a player like Tagger, who prefers structure over spectacle, Vittur’s managerial approach looks especially advantageous.
Tagger’s trajectory separates out from the majority of the tennis coverage, which focuses on spectacular debuts and teen prodigies winning majors before they graduate from high school. She is developing toward the top, tournament by tournament, round by round, rather than racing to the top. In a time of instant fame, that strategy feels especially novel.
Of course, she has an edge because of her height. What matters more, though, is how she applies it. She carefully constructs points, utilizing her reach to create sharp angles and cover the court effectively rather than depending only on strength. It is a style of playing that combines control with economy.
She will compete against increasingly formidable and experienced opponents in the upcoming seasons. However, by honing her skills in both juniors and ITFs, she has previously encountered a variety of playing environments. This flexibility may be especially creative in the way she manages schedule and surface transitions.
It’s also important to remember that she might still develop at 17. It wouldn’t be shocking if she gained a few more centimeters, which may improve her serve range and reach at the net. However, even in the absence of additional growth, her stature already places her in a unique physical tier that requires attention.
