Lilli Tagger delivers a show of authority in Prague defeating Krejcikova

Lilli Tagger continues to break doors at a dizzying speed. The young Austrian qualified for the final of the WTA 250 in Prague 2026 after a victory of enormous prestige against Barbora Krejcikova, the top favorite for the title, by 6-7(5), 6-3, and 7-6(4). A marathon match of great quality, resolved with a personality unbefitting of a player who is still taking her first steps in the elite.

The triumph gains even more value for happening against a two-time Grand Slam champion who was regaining a great level and competing in front of her home crowd. Tagger managed to overcome the loss of the first set, raised her performance, and withstood all the pressure to prevail in a decisive tiebreaker that reaffirms her enormous potential.

Tagger, a rarity destined for great things

The progression of Lilli Tagger is one of the most interesting stories in women's tennis. Considered for a long time one of the great promises of her generation, the Austrian also possesses a characteristic that makes her a true rarity on the WTA circuit: her elegant one-handed backhand, a stroke almost vanished among the world's best players.

Beyond aesthetic matters, what happened against Krejcikova represents a significant competitive leap. Winning a match of this demand, coming back and handling moments of maximum tension against an experienced rival, suggests that Tagger has the mental and tennis tools to become a rising star.

Her last opponent will be Daria Snigur, who defeated Tereza Valentova by 7-6(4) and 6-3. The results completed a particularly bitter day for Czech tennis, which had hoped for a final between two local representatives. Prague will finally have a foreign champion. All eyes will be on Tagger, whose emergence is starting to take on very serious dimensions.