Lilli Tagger, the Junior Roland Garros champion who chose to play with a one-handed backhand

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One of the most beautiful aspects of a Grand Slam is taking a look at the junior champions. Discovering those few names that, in the future, if all goes well, may appear on the big stages and make us thrill like the great legends. In this Roland Garros 2025, a 17-year-old girl has captivated us. Her name is Lilli Tagger, she is Austrian, and she has lifted the trophy without dropping a set, also defeating the two top candidates: Emerson Jones and Hannah Klugman. As if that wasn't enough, she is trained by Francesca Schiavone, the champion in Paris fifteen seasons ago. We hear a bit of her story and take note.

Connection with Francesca Schiavone

“I started training at her Academy in October 2023, although I had already met her before. I remember a couple of days ago when someone showed me a video of her winning here, she was the queen of the clay courts (laughs). I am learning a lot about the game, she is teaching me a lot, we discuss the tactical side because she also knew my opponent, but the most important thing in the final was for me to go out and enjoy the moment. Yet, we knew there would be moments when it wouldn't be easy to stay calm and focused on my goal.”

The decision to play with a one-handed backhand

“For me, I think it was the right decision. I mean, I don't remember it very well, because I think I was like 11 or 12 years old, but it all happened when we went to a tournament, we were in the audience, and then I told my father: ‘If I win, I want to play with a one-handed backhand’. It was a U12 tournament near Vienna, so when I won, I was very happy to be able to change my backhand style. I admit that it was a bit difficult to change it at that age, but I had a lot of fun playing, I never thought it was a bad decision. If I think about it now, I am convinced it was the right decision.”

Who are her role models?

“Regarding men's tennis, I love Jannik Sinner. I really love him, especially how he behaves mentally on the court, although I also really like his style. In the women's game, I stick with Aryna Sabalenka, I think she is different from all the others, she has a different kind of attitude. Beyond tennis, looking at other sports, I really like skiing, I usually watch it quite a bit, obviously Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn have had a lot to do with creating this passion in me.”

The impact of winning Roland Garros

“Winning this tournament here, in the junior category, is very special, although the goal we all have is to come back here later as adults and win the senior title. It is inspiring to mingle with everyone during these days, watching them play on the big stages, sometimes it's hard for us to focus on our own tournament. For me, it's a great victory, it inspires me a lot to keep working, but I insist: the goal is to return here in a few years and win the big title.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Lilli Tagger, la campeona de Roland Garros Junior que eligió jugar revés a una mano