Jiangxi Open: Blinkova wins the tournament

Russian Anna Blinkova won the Jiangxi Open final by defeating Austrian wildcard Lilli Tagger 6-3, 6-3 at the Nanchang International Tennis Center on Sunday. Blinkova, ranked No. 95, secured her victory after a disciplined performance against Lilli Tagger, aged 17, who was making her first WTA main-draw final appearance.

Earlier in the tournament, Blinkova showcased consistent and tactical tennis, beating Czech Dominika Salkova (6-4, 6-4), American Alycia Parks, the No. 3 seed (7-5, 7-5), Hungarian Anna Bondar, the No. 6 seed (7-6 (3), 7-5), and French qualifier Chloe Paquet (6-4, 6-4) en route to the final.

Tagger, ranked No. 235, produced a remarkable run to the final, defeating second seed Swiss Viktorija Golubic (6-1, 4-6, 7-5), German Tamara Korpatsch (6-3, 6-4), Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (6-4, 6-2), and Chinese wildcard Chenting Zhu (6-2, 6-1). Tagger has rapidly risen in the rankings after winning multiple ITF titles and the junior French Open in 2025.

Tagger close to the Top 150

This title represents Blinkova’s second WTA singles championship and first in three years, the previous one being at the Cluj-Napoca Open in Romania in 2022. Blinkova didn’t lose a set throughout the Jiangxi Open. Blinkova’s win boosts her WTA ranking, pushing her closer to the top 70, and underlines her ability to sustain strong performances on outdoor hard courts.

Meanwhile, Tagger’s impressive breakthrough season, marked by this first WTA final appearance, is highlighted by her fearless baseline play and a reliable one-handed backhand that has troubled many opponents. She will be ranked No. 155 in the world on Monday.