Barty, Aldila, and Priska's Inspiration for Janice Tjen

Janice Tjen not only realized her dream of competing in the main draw of a Grand Slam tennis tournament. In her debut, which began from the qualifying round of the 2025 US Open, the Indonesian women's singles player won the first round by defeating a seeded player.

The moment took place at Field 13 Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, on Sunday (24/8/2025) local time or Monday (25/8/2025) early morning Indonesia time. Janice defeated the world-ranked 26th player, who was seeded 24th, Veronika Kudermetova, with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in a match lasting two hours and 12 minutes.

Janice has become one of the Southeast Asian tennis players to win the first round of the US Open by defeating a seeded player. Alexandra Eala, a Filipino player who is making her third appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam, eliminated the 14th seed Clara Tauson, with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11).

Before defeating Kudermetova, Janice made a significant mark in her career in professional tennis and for Indonesian tennis. Three victories in the qualifying rounds made the 23-year-old player the first Indonesian tennis player to advance to the main draw of a Grand Slam since Angelique Widjaja at the 2004 US Open.

The victory over Kudermetova made her the first Indonesian tennis player to win a Grand Slam final since Angelique at Wimbledon 2003.

Janice secured a spot in the qualifying round with a ranking of 149th in the world. She achieved this position after being ranked 578th at the beginning of the year. Her ranking improved due to six ITF tournament titles from nine finals. In addition to her titles since June 2024, Janice has won 13 titles from 22 finals.

In the structure of the ITF tournament, championships for female players consist of W15, W35, W50, W75, W100, and WTA 125, from the lowest to the highest level. For the upper levels in the WTA Tour tournament structure, the tournaments consist of WTA 250, 500, and 1000. Janice has earned titles from the W15 to W50 levels and has already reached the finals of W75 and W100.

June 2024 marks the return of the Jakarta-born tennis player to professional competition after a hiatus since October 2022, during which she focused on completing her studies at Pepperdine University. Janice graduated in May 2024.

During her college years, Janice continued to compete in tennis, specifically in the NCAA, a collegiate sports competition in the United States. Although at the student level, the NCAA is known for being a highly competitive competition across various sports. Janice became a finalist in the women's doubles at the NCAA 2024 alongside Savannah Broadus.

When she (Raducanu) won, I was in university and injured. So, I watched a lot of her matches. Watching her journey was very inspiring to me.

In all three qualifying matches and against Kudermetova, Janice won and troubled her opponent with powerful serves and forehands. She also mixed up her powerful shots with slices, slow, spin-inducing shots, to change up the rhythm.

The world number 149 athlete also had a fairly good net shot percentage. Of her 30 net shot attempts against Kudermetova, she scored 20 points (67 percent), including on match point. During the press conference, Janice said she always discussed and practiced playing close to the net to get the final point.

Janice actually had the opportunity to win in two sets when she was leading 2-0 in the second set; however, she lost that set as Kudermetova raised her level of play.

"My play in one of my service games wasn't very good. I learned from that moment in the third set and tried to stay calm and not panic," said Janice, who won the final point with a winner at the net.

After this, Janice will face a greater challenge, which is to compete against the 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu. The British tennis player won the first round against Ena Shibahara with a score of 6-1, 6-2.

Raducanu has a similar journey to Janice at the US Open, having played since the qualifying rounds in 2021. She even made a surprise by becoming the champion, although her performance declined thereafter.

After the 2021 US Open, Raducanu's best result in Grand Slam tournaments has been reaching the third round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon 2025. The 22-year-old tennis player has never reached a final at any level.

Raducanu has only just won again at Flushing Meadows since her victory in 2021. At the 2022 US Open, she lost in the first round, missed the following year due to injury, and was eliminated in the first round in 2024.

"This is the first victory here since 2021. So, it feels very special. The first round is always difficult, especially in a Grand Slam tournament. I was very nervous, but I am happy to have made it through," said Raducanu.

Raducanu's journey at the 2021 US Open made Janice imagine what would happen during their meeting. "Playing against Emma, there will be more spectators because she is a very famous tennis player, and I am very happy to have this opportunity," she said.

Janice made this statement during a press conference in Flushing Meadows, a moment that not all tennis players experience in the Grand Slam arena. Typically, only prominent names attend press conferences or other players who create surprises, and Janice had the rare opportunity at her first Grand Slam.

In addition to recounting her first-round match against Raducanu, Janice shared her journey in professional tennis, who supports her, and her hobby of playing video games.

Here is Janice's interview during the press conference, the video of which was uploaded to the official US Open website.

Moderator: Congratulations, Janice. Please share your thoughts on the match.

Janice: I am very happy with today's game, I was able to execute everything that the coach and I planned.

How did your tennis journey begin and how did you get to the level you are at now?

I play tennis because I am inspired by my friend who is also a tennis player, Priska Madelyn Nugroho. We are not only friends on the tennis court but also outside of it. She asked me if I wanted to play tennis.

My parents advised me to give it a try, to engage in sports activities so that I would not just stay in my room doing nothing. That was the beginning of my journey in tennis.

(Priska is an Indonesian tennis player who won the junior girls' doubles title at the 2020 Australian Open alongside Eala. She is also actively competing in professional tennis, having secured two ITF women's singles titles and two women's doubles titles with Janice in 2025).

About today's match. You were leading in the second set, but lost it. What was your mindset in the third set? Can you tell us about the final point? You earned it with a good shot at the net.

Veronika stepped up her game in the second set. My play in one of the service games wasn't so good. I learned from that moment in the third set and tried to stay calm and not panic.

Regarding the final point, the net shot, my coach and I always discussed and practiced that method, and the odds were 50-50. However, since my net shot percentage was quite good, I gave it a try.

What did you do when Emma Raducanu won the US Open?

When she was the champion, I was at university and injured. So, I watched many matches. Watching her journey has inspired me to do my best, just as she did. Everyone loves Emma.

Many people say your game is similar to (Ashleigh) Barty. Have you ever heard that? Do you actually imitate her game?

Yes, I've heard that. Many people compare my game to Barty's, especially with the variety of shots I use with the slice. I idolize her and try to emulate some of her shots, which ones work for me and which ones don't, and try to understand her game. I've tried to play like that since I was a kid, and my university coach helped me develop that.

(Ashleigh Barty is an Australian tennis player who competed professionally from 2010 to 2022, winning the French Open in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021, and the Australian Open in 2022. Barty is known for her varied playing style compared to other players. One of her weapons is the slice, which causes the ball to float slowly with a fast spin and drop close to the net.)

You're from Indonesia, which hasn't had a singles player at a Grand Slam in a long time. What do you think?

It means a lot to me. I am proud to be able to do this for my country. I hope my presence here can inspire more tennis players. I hope more children play tennis and believe that they too can be on a path like this.

Since playing here, have you received many messages?

Janice: Yes, I received many notifications and messages. I tried to sort through and read them. I am pleased with the supportive messages I received.

How are your emotions with this win and how do you see the next match against Emma?

I am still processing my emotions and everything that has happened, but I am very happy to continue my journey here. On the field, I felt a bit emotional and cried a little. It certainly feels very joyful.

Against Emma, the crowd will be bigger, she is a very famous tennis player and I am very happy to have this opportunity.

Have you ever felt emotions like this before? What did you talk about with the coach after the game?

Janice: I don't think it's ever been like this. We haven't talked much, he just said he's proud of me and that he's happy that our game plan is working.

You like playing video games. Are there any you're playing right now?

Nowadays, my coach and I love playing Mario Kart. I've been playing it since I was young.

How is the support for you as a tennis player in Indonesia? Is there any support from the federation? What about your family?

In the process of development, parents are very supportive. My journey towards professionalism has not been easy at every step. This is an expensive sport; we have to travel constantly. My parents guided me to develop in tennis through university.

What did you study at university? How did you decide to play professional tennis?

I studied sociology. During a period of contemplation, I considered whether or not to pursue a career in professional tennis. Ultimately, I decided to give it a try, and the coach at Pepperdine advised me to at least attempt it for two years. I trusted their guidance, and here I am now.

Currently, Indonesia has another professional tennis player, Aldila Sutjiadi. How is your relationship with her? I think you both won bronze medals in women's doubles at the Asian Games.

I am very close to Aldila. She has always been a good sister to me. She takes care of and helps me, and she is also one of the people who encouraged me to try playing professional tennis. I am very happy to be an Indonesian tennis player alongside Aldila who is here.

Janice won a bronze medal while partnering with Aldila at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. This became Indonesia's only medal in the tennis event.