AMSTETTEN/STARNBERG, August 10, 2025
Sinja Kraus claimed the title at the Ladies Open Amstetten powered by Sportland Niederösterreich, completing a flawless week without dropping a single set. In an all-Austrian final, the 23-year-old from Vienna defeated 17-year-old Lilli Tagger from East Tyrol 6-2, 6-4.
Kraus made a fast start, breaking early for a 2-0 lead and fending off a break point with an ace. Another break extended her advantage to 4-0 before Tagger managed to get on the scoreboard. Kraus stayed composed, moving ahead 5-2 and sealing the set with yet another break.
The second set saw a shift in momentum as Tagger broke early, reduced her error count, and kept pace with her more experienced opponent. But Kraus raised her level in the key moments, breaking at 5-4 to secure the victory.
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“I’m absolutely thrilled. I was able to bring my best tennis to the court today. In the decisive phase of the second set, I was fully there and very happy with my performance,” Kraus said after lifting the trophy.
Adjusting to Changing Conditions
The final presented different challenges compared to Kraus’s earlier matches. “It was a bit different than the last few days because I usually played the evening match. But I adapted quickly and well. Honestly, I didn’t mind — I just went out and played,” she explained.
Despite the loss, Tagger remained upbeat: “It’s been an incredible week. It’s a pity about today — Sinja was simply the better player. But I’m proud of my week. There are still some gaps in my game we can work on, and we’ll keep going.”
Career Highs for Both Finalists
The title not only gives Kraus the trophy but also propels her to a new career-high ranking of around World No. 133. Tagger jumps roughly 143 spots to break into the Top 400 for the first time. Kraus will now head to New York for US Open qualifying, while Tagger’s next stop will be the ITF World Tennis Tour W75 event in Vienna.
