Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 5: Seventeen-year-old Austrian tennis prodigy Lilli Tagger continued her impressive rise on the professional circuit by storming into the quarterfinals of the 2026 Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) courts.
Seeded seventh and riding a career-best Women’s Singles ranking of World No. 128, Tagger delivered a composed performance to defeat India’s Vaishnavi Adkar in straight sets in the Round of 32, underlining her growing stature on the WTA Tour and her ambitions for a deep run in Mumbai.
Tagger’s breakthrough year came in 2025, when she captured the Junior Roland Garros Singles title, a milestone that marked her transition from an elite junior to a serious professional contender. Since then, the teenager has carried that momentum forward, showing remarkable consistency and maturity well beyond her age.
Competing in India for the first time, Tagger said the experience has been both eye-opening and memorable. “It’s my first time here in India, and it’s very different from European cities. It’s very special and interesting. There are a lot of things you can learn just by being here, and I would love to explore the city a bit more,” she said.
She also praised the playing conditions and organisation at the MSLTA venue. “The courts are very good. They are a bit slow, so it becomes physically challenging, but that’s part of the game. The facilities here are great and the people are very welcoming. It really helps us prepare well and creates a healthy competitive environment. The organisers have done a very good job,” Tagger noted.
Her rapid ascent has followed an unconventional path. Raised in the mountains of Austria, Tagger initially spent much of her childhood skiing. Introduced to ping pong by her grandmother, she eventually gravitated towards tennis. At just 14, she made the bold decision to leave home and pursue professional training abroad.
“I was based in Austria until I was 14, and then I moved to Italy near Venice to train at an academy. For the last two and a half years, I’ve been travelling on tour,” she said, reflecting on the sacrifices behind her progress.
Speaking about her approach to the Mumbai Open, Tagger stressed process over pressure. “Of course, the goal in every tournament is to try to win it, but we focus more on improving my game. We can’t control wins or losses, but we can control the work we put in,” she said.
Tagger is set to face Japan’s Eri Shimizu in the Round of 16 clash on Thursday, as she looks to extend her impressive debut run at the Mumbai Open.