Maria Sakkari defeated 18-year-old wild card Lilli Tagger 7-5, 6-0 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The No. 32 seed turned the match around with tactical adjustments in the second set. Sakkari now prepares for a rematch against Iga Swiatek.
Maria Sakkari, a two-time runner-up at the BNP Paribas Open, secured a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Lilli Tagger on Saturday in Indian Wells, California. The 18-year-old Austrian wild card had entered the match with recent success, including a WTA 250 final in Jiujiang and a W100 title in Fujairah, along with a first-round win at the tournament featuring her stylish one-handed backhand.
The first set proved challenging for Sakkari, who was adjusting to the desert wind and shaking off heavy legs after a first-round bye. Tagger, having played a prior match, appeared comfortable early on. Sakkari noted the difficulty in finding her range against the unfamiliar opponent.
In the second set, Sakkari shifted tactics by directing more pace toward Tagger's one-handed backhand, a rarity on the women's tour. She ceased fighting the wind, reduced unforced errors, and dominated to win 6-0. "When you’re 20 years old and you’re starting, yes, you have hope, because you don’t know," Sakkari reflected on her evolution. "But I know what I’m capable of now... It’s about belief."
This performance stems from Sakkari's offseason rebuild, where she skipped tournaments to overhaul her service motion and forehand. "I still go into my old habits," she said. "I have to remind myself to just do what worked in preseason. But everything -- the technical part and the scheduling -- it all comes together. It makes you play your best tennis."
The win follows Sakkari's upset of Iga Swiatek in Doha last month. A rematch with the World No. 2 awaits on Monday, where Sakkari anticipates tactical changes from Swiatek. "She’s for sure going to feel the pressure of trying to do something different," Sakkari said. "But I’m going to try to keep my level. That’s going to be my challenge."
