From junior champ to main draw: Lilli Tagger didn't expect "super quick" jump to Roland Garros big stage

PARIS—What a difference a year makes, some say.

For Lilli Tagger, that certainly rings true at Roland Garros.

In 2025, the Austrian convincingly captured the girls’ singles title without dropping a set. Twelve months later, Tagger has already made the jump to a French Open main-draw debut—on her own merit after cracking the Top 100 in April.

“It feels honestly crazy. Strange,” she reacts in an interview with TENNIS.com. “Last year came here playing the juniors and now I’m here playing the women’s main draw. I didn’t expect it would go so fast in one year. We worked every single day. It went super quick.

“It’s not a thing that happens every day, so I will go out there and enjoy the moment.”

Tagger arrived in Paris on Wednesday and comes into this event ranked a career-best No. 91. The Lienz native has the perfect coach at the helm for her maiden Grand Slam main draw appearance in Francesca Schiavone. The Italian won this event back in 2010 (also finishing runner-up the following year) and did so with a one-handed backhand, a shot Tagger also has in her arsenal.

“I think I’m lucky to have her by my side. She know what’s happening to me and with her backhand, it’s unique,” says Tagger.

As for their dynamic, the rising talent appreciates the balance Schiavone strives to achieve while pursuing their ambitions together.

“The things she tells me, sometimes I don’t expect what she says. But the most interesting part is how she builds up a game or how she lives her life,” she says. “She knows when to work and when to enjoy life.”

I didn’t expect it would go so fast in one year. We worked every single day. It went super quick. Lilli Tagger

Tagger is set to face No. 32 seed Wang Xinyu on Sunday. When asked to share three things fans should know about her, the rising talent had this to say.

“I love to compete off the court. Play golf, cards with my friends. I love to make jokes with my team, about them actually,” she laughed.

“And I can’t wait to go out there and start the tournament.”

Spoken like a player who’s found the perfect equilibrium.