Janice Tjen called it “special” after producing a stunning upset to become the first Indonesian to win a match at the Australian Open in 28 years.
The unseeded 23-year-old shocked Canada’s 22nd seed Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) on Tuesday to advance to the second round in Melbourne, adding another milestone to her rapidly rising career.
Tjen, who was ranked 413 a year ago and is now world number 59, is the first Indonesian to win a Grand Slam match since Yayuk Basuki in 1998.
“I’m very happy to be a part of history and be able to get a win here for Indonesia,” she said. “It was special, especially being able to do it in front of my family here and there were a lot of Indonesians, and my close friends are also here.”
Asked how her life has changed since her breakthrough in 2025, she told AFP: “I get recognised a little bit here and there, and I think it’s nice — it’s a nice feeling to be recognised.”
Backed by vocal Indonesian fans, Tjen made a flying start, wrapping up the first set in just 36 minutes. She broke early in the second set and held firm in a crucial fourth game to go 3-1 up.
Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up, fought back to level the match, forcing a tiebreak. But Tjen surged to a 3-0 lead and never looked back, sealing victory with a roar of celebration.
Tjen’s career took off in 2025, when she upset Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova as a qualifier at the US Open, becoming the first Indonesian to reach a Grand Slam singles main draw since 2004.
She also won the Chennai title last year, making her the first Indonesian to lift a WTA Tour singles trophy since 2002.
Reflecting on the support in Melbourne, she said: “It’s something special and feels a little bit like home. Knowing that a lot of Indonesians came out to support me today means a lot.”
