The New Wave: Dominic Thiem Hails Lilli Tagger as the Future of Austrian Tennis

For years, Austrian tennis has been defined by the towering presence of Dominic Thiem. But as the former US Open champion looks toward the horizon, he isn’t seeing a void—he’s seeing a resurgence. In a recent interview with the ORF, Thiem signaled a pivotal shift in the landscape of the sport at home, specifically pointing to a new generation of women who are ready to reclaim the global stage.

The focal point of Thiem’s optimism is 18-year-old Lilli Tagger. For Thiem, Tagger isn’t just another rising prospect. she is a stylistic outlier in a modern game that has become increasingly homogenized. As the tennis world prepares for the French Open in Paris, Thiem believes Tagger is poised to become a standard-bearer for a vanishing art: the one-handed backhand.

A Rare Breed: The One-Handed Backhand

In the current era of the WTA tour, the two-handed backhand is the gold standard for stability and power. The one-hander, once common, has become a rarity, often viewed as a liability under the pressure of high-velocity baseline rallies. However, Thiem sees Tagger’s commitment to the shot not as a weakness, but as a competitive advantage.

“Lilli Tagger stands out,” Thiem noted, emphasizing his admiration for her technical approach. “I am impressed by the one-handed backhand. It pleases me immensely because it is even rarer in women’s tennis. She will hold the flag for this beautiful shot.”

For a global audience, this technical detail is more than just aesthetic. A one-handed backhand allows for greater variety, better slice implementation, and a different geometry on the court—tools that can disrupt the rhythm of opponents who are used to the predictable patterns of two-handed players. Thiem’s endorsement suggests that Tagger possesses the technical maturity to make this “beautiful shot” a weapon rather than a vulnerability.

The Ascent of Lilli Tagger

Tagger’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. At just 18 years old, the Tiroler native has already cracked the Top 100 of the WTA rankings. This milestone is a critical threshold in professional tennis, as it grants players direct entry into the main draws of Grand Slam tournaments, bypassing the grueling qualifying rounds.

The reward for her hard work arrives this month in Paris. Tagger is set to make her main draw debut at the French Open, a milestone that Thiem describes as “impressive” given her age. For a teenager to navigate the professional circuit and secure a Top 100 spot requires a combination of mental fortitude and physical resilience that few possess at that stage of development.

Note for readers: The “main draw” refers to the final bracket of a tournament where the top-ranked players compete for the title, as opposed to the “qualifying draw” where lower-ranked players fight for a few remaining spots.

The Potapova Factor and a Depth of Talent

While Tagger represents the future, the present is being bolstered by the arrival of Anastasia Potapova. Now representing Austria as a “Neo-Österreicherin,” Potapova has brought an immediate, high-level competitive edge to the national squad. Her recent form on the clay courts of Europe has been a catalyst for the current euphoria surrounding the sport in Austria.

Potapova’s run at the WTA 1000 event in Rome has been a masterclass in confidence. After a deep run in Madrid, where she reached the semifinals, Potapova continued her momentum in Italy. She secured a commanding victory over Ljudmila Samsonova, winning 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the round of 16.

The synergy between an established powerhouse like Potapova and a prodigy like Tagger creates a healthy ecosystem. Potapova provides the immediate results and visibility, while Tagger provides the long-term hope and developmental inspiration.

A Historic Moment for Austrian Women’s Tennis

The most telling statistic of this resurgence is the entry list for the upcoming French Open. For the first time in a significant period, Austria will have four women competing in the main draw in Paris.

“Women’s tennis is in a highly good place,” Thiem observed. “Having four women in the main draw at the French Open is something that hasn’t happened in a long time. This is extremely important for women’s sports in Austria.”

This depth is a critical metric for the growth of the sport. When a nation has a single star, the pressure can be suffocating; when it has a cohort of four competitive players at a Grand Slam, it creates a support system and a shared ambition that can elevate the entire group.

Analyzing the Stakes: What’s Next?

As the tour moves to the red clay of Roland Garros, the expectations for the Austrian contingent are high but nuanced. For Potapova, the goal is a deep run that validates her status as a top-tier competitor. For Lilli Tagger, the objective is different: experience, exposure, and the opportunity to prove that her one-handed backhand can hold up against the best in the world.

The French Open is notoriously the most demanding surface for a one-handed backhand due to the high, heavy bounces of the clay. If Tagger can navigate the early rounds in Paris, it will serve as a definitive proof of concept for her game.

The road to Paris is set. Whether Tagger becomes a mainstay of the Top 50 or Potapova pushes for a title, the “flag” of Austrian tennis is flying higher than it has in years. As Thiem aptly put it, the momentum is real, and the future is looking bright.

Next Checkpoint: The main draw of the French Open begins in Paris, where Lilli Tagger will make her debut. Stay tuned to Archysport for live updates and analysis from Roland Garros.

Do you think the one-handed backhand still has a place in the modern women’s game? Let us know in the comments.