The WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz returned to Europe last week for the WTA 500 Upper Austria Ladies Linz.
Although the event featured a smaller draw of just 28 players, it coincided with seven Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers taking place worldwide, from Kazakhstan to Melbourne.
As the Clay-Court swing intensifies and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals approach, here’s a recap of the notable moments from the WTA Tour last week.
Star of the Week
Mirra Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva confirmed her status as the top seed and favorite in Linz, capturing her second title of the season and fifth overall in her career.
The 18-year-old, ranked No. 9 in the world, triumphed over veterans Sloane Stephens and Sorana Cirstea in her initial matches, then defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the semifinals. In the final against former champion Anastasia Potapova, Andreeva rallied from a challenging first set to win the match 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
This victory marks Andreeva’s second clay title, having previously won in Iasi in 2024, joining Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula as the only multiple-title holders on tour this year.
Breakthrough of the Week
Lilli Tagger
It was an extraordinary week for 18-year-old Lilli Tagger, as she made her Linz debut in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Against a tough draw, Tagger secured a remarkable opening win against former World No. 2 Paula Badosa — marking the first main-draw victory for an Austrian in Linz since 2013. She followed this up with an upset over third seed Liudmila Samsonova, achieving her first Top 30 win, which propelled her into her inaugural WTA 500 quarterfinal. Although she lost to Potapova in the quarters, Tagger’s performance elevated her into the Top 100 (No. 97) of the PIF WTA Rankings for the first time, making her the youngest player in that tier.
Upset of the Week
Belgium d. USA, Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers
While Tagger’s victory over Samsonova could qualify as an upset, we must highlight Belgium’s unexpected win over the United States, a team that has claimed the Billie Jean King Cup title 18 times.
This tie was contested in Belgium on red clay, and although the U.S. team was missing its top players like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, they were still anticipated to progress. Day 1 saw a surprising turn of events as World No. 94 Hanne Vandewinkel defeated Jovic, quickly putting the U.S. in a 0-2 deficit. Despite Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar-Martinez winning the doubles match to make it 2-1, Greet Minnen sealed Belgium’s spot in the Finals with a win over Jovic.
Best Match of the Week
Linda Noskova d. Belinda Bencic, Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers
A thrilling clash occurred between Top 15 players as Linda Noskova faced Belinda Bencic in a must-win match for Czechia, who was trailing Switzerland 2-1. Noskova saved three match points and won a dramatic tiebreak to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9), paving the way for her team’s success in advancing to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Best Shot(s) of the Week
Lilli Tagger’s Impressive One-Handed Backhands
Tagger not only entertained the audience with her victories but also with her remarkable shot-making, especially her signature one-handed backhand that consistently found its mark. She showcased several stunning backhands during her opening-round match against Badosa, particularly at critical junctures.
Throwback Performances of the Week
Sloane Stephens and Karolina Pliskova
Both veterans had standout performances in Linz. Stephens made a comeback to defeat Tatjana Maria 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, marking her first Top 100 win since June 2024. Pliskova, the tournament champion in 2014, secured wins over Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Alexandrova, achieving her first Top 20 victory in nearly two years.
Best Off-Court Clip of the Week
Iga Swiatek with Rafael Nadal
Highlighting the week was Iga Swiatek practicing at the Rafael Nadal Academy alongside her idol and her new coach, Francisco Roig. Pegula and Keys shared their thoughts on this moment, suggesting it’s a positive development for Swiatek and a concern for other competitors on tour.
Social Moment of the Week
After winning the title in Linz, Andreeva was presented with an enormous cotton candy, perhaps an even sweeter victory than the trophy itself.
