Lilli Tagger continues her impressive run of form in the United States, advancing through the opening round of the qualifying tournament at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Following her recent breakthrough victory at the WTA tournament in Prague, the 18-year-old Austrian overcame a slow start to defeat China’s Zhu Lin 3:6, 6:1, 6:1.
Overcoming a Slow Start in Ohio
Playing as the top-seeded player in the qualifying draw, Tagger dropped the opening set against Zhu before completely shifting the momentum of the match. Finding her range on the hard courts in Ohio, the young Austrian dropped just two more games across the second and third sets to seal a dominant 3:6, 6:1, 6:1 victory. The win extends her ongoing success on North American hard courts following her title run in the Czech Republic.
Next Challenge for the Main Draw
With her first-round qualifying win secured, Tagger advances to the final round of the preliminary phase at the Masters-level event. She will face American player Robin Montgomery for a coveted spot in the main draw. Montgomery booked her place in the final qualifying round by defeating Austria’s Julia Grabher in a tight three-set battle that ended 4:6, 7:5, 6:3.
Preparations for the US Open
Tagger’s schedule remains packed as the North American summer swing rolls toward the final Grand Slam of the season. Regardless of her final qualifying result in Cincinnati, tournament entries confirm that Tagger has a guaranteed spot in the main draw of the upcoming US Open, with action at Flushing Meadows set to begin on August 30.
Mixed Fortunes for Austrian Competitors
Other Austrian players have also been active in the Cincinnati qualifying draws. Sinja Kraus joined Tagger in the winner’s circle by defeating Spain’s Marina Bassols Ribera 6:4, 6:3 in her opening qualifying match. On the men’s side, Austria’s top-ranked male player Sebastian Ofner suffered an early exit, falling to Argentine clay-court specialist Marco Trungelliti 4:6, 6:4, 7:6(4) after a tightly contested battle.
Tagger will return to the court to face Montgomery in the decisive qualifying round, looking to punch her ticket to the main tournament in Cincinnati before shifting full focus to New York.
Worth a look
