Indonesia’s Janice Tjen prepares to serve Canada’s Leylah Fernandez throughout their girls’s singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis event in Melbourne. Picture: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Janice Tjen known as it “particular” after she pulled off an upset to develop into the primary Indonesian to win a match on the Australian Open in 28 years on Tuesday.
Unseeded Tjen shocked Canadian twenty second seed Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) to surge into the second spherical in Melbourne and add to her rising listing of milestones.
Tjen, who this time final yr was ranked 413 however is now the world quantity 59, is the primary Indonesian to win a match on the main since Yayuk Basuki in 1998.
“I am very comfortable to be part of historical past and be capable of get a win right here for Indonesia,” mentioned the 23-year-old.
“It was particular, particularly having the ability to do it in entrance of my household right here and there have been quite a lot of Indonesians, and my shut pals are additionally right here.”
Requested by AFP how her life had modified off courtroom since a breakthrough 2025, she mentioned: “I get recognised a bit of bit right here and there and I feel it is good, it is a good feeling to be recognised.”
In entrance of the vocal Indonesia followers Tjen made a lightning begin, sealing the primary set in 36 minutes to go away her higher-ranked opponent from Canada reeling.
Tjen seized an early break within the second set to place 2021 US Open runner-up Fernandez instantly on the again foot.
The fourth recreation of the second set threatened to be pivotal, Tjen digging herself out of a gap on her personal serve to carry and go 3-1 up.
The 23-year-old Fernandez fought again, reeling off three video games in a row to show the tide.
The battling duo headed right into a tiebreak, the place Tjen powered right into a 3-0 lead and by no means appeared again, letting out a mighty roar when victory was confirmed.
Tjen’s profession took off in 2025.
She pulled off one other shock in upsetting Russian twenty fourth seed Veronika Kudermetova as a qualifier on the US Open.
In New York she was the primary Indonesian to play in the principle singles draw of a Grand Slam since 2004.
The Jakarta native lifted the title in Chennai final yr — the primary Indonesian to win a WTA Tour singles crown since 2002.
Reflecting on the help in Melbourne of Indonesia followers waving their purple and white flag and chanting, Tjen mentioned: “It is one thing particular and feels a bit of bit like residence.
“Realizing that quite a lot of Indonesians got here out to help me at this time means so much.”
