The 21 & Under Club in '21: Clara Tauson

Will turn 22 on

• 12/21/2024

What she’s done since last summer

• Won her first WTA title in Lyon
• Reached her first clay-court quarterfinal in Charleston
• Entered the Top 100

Key Stat

• Tauson didn’t drop a set through seven match wins in Lyon, including two in qualifying

Tauson rounds out a dynamic Danish duo alongside Holger Rune, but unlike her ATP counterpart, the 18-year-old has already made it big on the senior circuit, winning her first WTA title in Lyon back in March.

A self-described tennis fanatic, Tauson has proven a quick study, eager to show off her knowledge of the competition both on and off the court.

“I’ve watched tennis my whole life, whenever I’ve had the opportunity, on TV or YouTube. You can ask me anything,” she said in Lyon. “I know everything about all of the scores there is right now and before. It’s fun for me because I like watching tennis and knowing all the players and results. You’ll never find me in a difficult position if you ask me something about tennis. I know everything! My coach says I’m the Wikipedia of tennis results. I love watching tennis, playing tennis. I love the game.”

Though Tauson is culturally and visually reminiscent of former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, the teenager draws a fine line between the 2018 Australian Open champion’s defense and her own aggressive style.

“I think my game is the kind that can help me get to the top level. On the ITF level, a lot of the best players are good counterpunchers who get me to play a lot of shots. Here, the players are going for their shots much more. I think it’s more fun playing these kinds of tournaments where everyone is going for their shots, the ball is coming fast, we play fast points. We played a couple of long points, but even those were fun!”

Looking adept at all surfaces, Tauson built on her Lyon victory with a quarterfinal finish at a WTA 250 event in Charleston, and shook off an injury incurred there to push Victoria Azarenka through two tight sets at Roland Garros.

“I definitely still have a lot of respect for the WTA players, but by now, I’m playing more and more matches against them. I feel more comfortable and I don’t come on the court scared, the way I may have used to feel.”