Seventeen-year-olds Lilli Tagger and Mia Pohankova are making significant strides in their early professional tennis careers. Both players recently celebrated key milestones by capturing their first International Tennis Federation (ITF) titles, with Pohankova achieving this in her native Slovakia last October and Tagger following suit in Spain this past April, where she defeated breakout star Lois Boisson in the final.
Building on their momentum, Tagger and Pohankova showcased their talent on the big stage by making their WTA main draw debuts this week. Tagger competed in Jiujiang, China, while Pohankova played in Chennai, India, and both secured first-round victories. Tagger triumphed over China’s Zhu Chenting, while Pohankova emerged victorious against former Top 100 player Nao Hibino.
Tagger’s impressive performance continued as she achieved her first win against a Top 100 player on Wednesday, defeating world No. 89 Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets. Following the match, Tagger expressed her delight, stating, “It was an amazing match. I had a lot of fun out there… I can’t wait for the next match. It was my first win against a top 100 player, which feels amazing.”
The young Austrian is earning recognition not only for her results but also for her one-handed backhand, which has been compared to that of her coach, the 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. This season, Tagger boasts a remarkable record of 32-8, which includes three ITF titles and her junior Grand Slam victory, propelling her into the top 200 of the live rankings for the first time.
Pohankova, also making the most of her opportunities, matched Tagger’s junior achievements with her own set of accomplishments, including the Wimbledon girls’ singles title and a semifinal appearance in girls’ doubles at the French Open alongside Tagger. This season, she holds an 8-4 record across all levels, featuring two ITF quarterfinals and wins against two top 200 opponents.
Both players are eager to build upon their recent successes and continue accumulating WTA victories. Tagger shared her excitement for the tournament experience, stating, “I’m really, really happy I get the chance to play the main draw here. I haven’t seen much of the city yet, but maybe in the next few days, when I have time, I’ll go visit it a little bit.”
With dreams of potentially capturing their first WTA titles, Tagger and Pohankova are certainly names to watch in the months ahead, promising a bright future for women’s tennis.