Prior to the birth of Austrian player Tagger in February 2008, Williams had already claimed six major singles trophies alongside 30 WTA titles.
Francesca Schiavone, Tagger’s mentor and the Italian ex-world number four who captured Roland Garros in 2010, shares Williams’ age and failed to defeat the American in any of their eight professional encounters.
“Viewing the matchup filled me with huge excitement alongside some anxiety, as I hold her in high esteem,” remarked Tagger, currently ranked 53rd globally.
“It’s remarkable that she previously competed against my trainer. Reaching that stage of a career would be incredible for me, and I offer her my congratulations.”
Although a victory in straight sets might fuel detractor arguments, Williams made sure Tagger—a promising prospect tipped for elite success—had to push herself.
Even so, the young player was simply dominant. The 2025 French Open junior winner put on a masterclass on serve, losing a mere seven points on her delivery without giving up a break opportunity, all while absorbing Williams’ velocity and unleashing heavy shots on both sides.
Across two remarkably similar sets, Tagger managed two service breaks against her legendary rival, taking leads of 1-0 and 5-2 in each.
Williams occasionally relied on her formidable serve to escape pressure—saving 12 out of 16 break opportunities—demonstrating that the seasoned star’s renowned determination remained intact.
Yet the match served as another reminder of the considerable gap separating her from current tour standards.
