Tamara Korpatsch entered the US Open in New York as Germany’s top-ranked female tennis player, but her campaign ended in the opening round following a straight-sets defeat to Austria’s Lilli Tagger, 0:6, 6:7 (4:7). The 31-year-old fought back from a 0:4 deficit in the second set before falling short, later citing physical struggles and illness that turned the match into what she described as an ordeal.
A Tough Start and Physical Struggles in New York
Playing on Court 13, Korpatsch found herself under pressure immediately against Tagger’s aggressive play. The German player surrendered her opening service game with a double fault and struggled to find her rhythm during a 33-minute opening set that slipped away at 6:0. Korpatsch admitted afterward that the first set moved too quickly, noting that nothing worked according to plan.
“The first set went away much too fast, nothing worked the way I wanted,” Korpatsch said. She revealed that she fell slightly ill the day before the match, dealing with a sore throat and general fatigue. “The match was physically an ordeal for me. I am very disappointed with how I felt. It didn’t really feel like fun.”
The Second-Set Comeback and Tie-Break Drama
Despite taking a lengthy bathroom break between sets, Korpatsch continued to battle frustration, gesturing toward women’s national coach Torben Beltz and her team on the sidelines. Down 0:4 and facing a 15:40 deficit in the second set, she mounted a sudden rally, winning five games in a row to seize momentum. However, she was unable to convert two set points and eventually dropped the tie-break 4:7.
The defeat marks the third time Korpatsch has lost to Tagger. Just a month prior, Korpatsch captured her second WTA title in her hometown of Hamburg, a run that lifted her into the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time at No. 48, establishing her well ahead of Tatjana Maria.
Lilli Tagger’s Milestone Victory
For Tagger, the victory represents a major career milestone. The Austrian talent recently secured her first WTA title in Prague and is appearing in the main singles draw at the US Open for the first time. With this win over Korpatsch, Tagger advances to the second round of a Grand-Slam tournament for the first time.
What Comes Next
Following her elimination from the US Open singles draw, Korpatsch will look toward recovery, while Tagger advances to face her next opponent in the second round in New York.
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