Janice Tjen's Historic Win Sets Up Clash with Emma Raducanu

New York, Aug 25 (AP) – In a remarkable achievement, Janice Tjen became the first Indonesian player in 22 years to secure a singles victory at a Grand Slam tournament. Her triumph sets up a compelling second-round clash against one of her inspirations, U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Tjen's impressive upset over No. 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova, with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, took 2 hours and 11 minutes on Sunday. This victory propels her into a much-anticipated match against the 2021 U.S. Open winner Raducanu, who famously emerged from the qualifying rounds to clinch her title at Flushing Meadows.

At 23 years old, Tjen proudly joins the ranks of major tournament singles players from Indonesia, a feat last accomplished by Angelique Widjaja at the 2004 U.S. Open.

“When Emma won the tournament and had an incredible run here, I was actually in college and I was injured at the time, so I got to watch a lot of tennis,” Tjen shared.

“Just seeing her doing it makes me, like, inspired to be able to do it as well.”

Tjen honed her skills at Pepperdine, achieving NCAA doubles runner-up status in 2024. With a degree in sociology, she faced a crucial career decision whether to pursue professional tennis.

“During my college years, I was always contemplating if I should go for it or not,” Tjen explained. “Ultimately, I decided to try it out, and my coaches at Pepperdine were very supportive, encouraging me to give it a try for at least two years. So, I trusted them, and here I am.”

Entering the tournament with an impressive 55-10 record this year from lower-level matches, Tjen seized the opportunity of a lifetime. After overcoming a setback from a 3-1 lead in the second set, she secured her victory with a well-executed backhand volley on match point, celebrating emotionally as she dropped to her knees near the net.

Her upcoming match against Raducanu promises to be on a much larger stage.

“It’s going to be — well, my first thought is just, like, it’s going to be a big crowd, I would say, a bigger crowd playing against her,” said Tjen. “She’s a very well-known player, and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

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