Like Sinner, 18-year-old Tagger has a background in winter sports. She previously skied and played ice hockey before turning her focus to tennis.
After his match, Sinner spoke about what makes the Austrian player unique, noting her one-handed backhand, which is uncommon in women’s tennis.
Sinner emphasized that skiing has helped him develop more mental strength than physical balance, explaining that handling pressure and challenges in other sports has positively influenced his tennis career.
“I know her very well; she’s a talented player, different from many in women’s tennis,” said Sinner. “You can see her passion for the game, which is crucial for any player.”
“She’s still figuring out her style of play, but she’s young and has time.”
Why has Lilli Tagger been compared to Carlos Alcaraz?
Last year, Tagger became the first Austrian to win a junior title at Roland Garros.
With former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone as her coach, comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz began to surface.
Alcaraz was coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero from the age of 16, and podcaster Roddy Reynolds highlighted the similarities between the two on The Grind podcast.
“She definitely has that Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero vibe,” Reynolds remarked about Tagger.
“There’s a story where Ferrero declined to coach a top player because he believed in this young talent, Tagger, saying, ‘I’ve got this kid, he’s a freak, we’ll be fine.’”
Tagger has also been likened to Ash Barty early in her career and has delivered strong performances during the sunshine double.
Having achieved main draw victories at both Indian Wells and the Miami Open as a teenager, she is now rising toward world number 106 in the live rankings, showcasing her early potential on the tour.
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