Janice Tjen created history at the Australian Open by becoming the first Indonesian player in 28 years to win a match at the tournament.
The 23-year-old stunned Canadian 22nd seed Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) to advance into the second round.
Tjen, ranked 59 in the world after a rapid climb from 413 last year, matched the feat last achieved by Yayuk Basuki in 1998. She made a blistering start, sealing the opening set in just 36 minutes. Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up, struggled to contain Tjen’s aggressive play.
In the second set, Tjen broke early and held firm despite pressure in the fourth game. Fernandez fought back strongly, winning three consecutive games to shift momentum. The contest headed into a tiebreak, where Tjen surged to a 3-0 lead and closed out the match with a roar of triumph.
The Jakarta native has enjoyed a breakthrough run since 2025. She upset Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova at the US Open as a qualifier, becoming the first Indonesian to feature in a Grand Slam singles main draw since 2004. She also lifted the Chennai title last year, marking Indonesia’s first WTA Tour singles crown since 2002.
Tjen’s victory in Melbourne adds another milestone to her growing list of achievements and signals Indonesia’s resurgence in global tennis.
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