Blinkova Claims Second Career Title at WTA 250 Jiujiang Against Rising Star Tagger

Anna Blinkova won the Jiujiang tournament, defeating 17-year-old Lilli Tagger in straight sets in the final this Sunday.

The stage was set for the final of the WTA 250 tournament in Jiujiang, China this Sunday. Anna Blinkova faced Lilli Tagger, a young Austrian player who has been steadily improving in recent months.

The 17-year-old world number 230, who received a wild card from the organizers, made the most of her opportunity throughout the week and managed to eliminate the defending champion Viktorija Golubic in the semifinals, after saving three match points.

On her side, the Russian, world number 95, had a strong tournament, defeating Chloé Paquet (6-4, 6-4), Anna Bondar (7-6, 7-5), Alycia Parks (7-5, 7-5), and Dominika Salkova (6-4, 6-4). The 27-year-old player was the favorite, but caution was advised against the protégée of Francesca Schiavone, who was playing her first WTA Tour final and was already guaranteed to break into the top 200 after the tournament.

In control during the match, Blinkova concluded a perfect tournament without dropping a set, with a final victory (6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour 40 minutes). She wins the second title of her career, three years after her victory against Jasmine Paolini at the Cluj-Napoca tournament in the autumn of 2022 (6-2, 3-6, 6-2). She had subsequently lost her last WTA Tour final, against Elina Svitolina in Strasbourg in 2023 (6-2, 6-3).