US Open Southeast Asian Breakthroughs: Eala, Tjen Advance

Janice Tjen of Indonesia made history at the 2025 US Open by becoming the first Indonesian player in 22 years to win a singles match at a Grand Slam, defeating 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in a thrilling three-set match. Tjen, who entered the tournament through the qualifying rounds, won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and advanced to face 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, an inspiration to her during her college years. At 23, Tjen joins an elite group of Indonesian players, with her victory matching the achievements of tennis legends like Angelique Widjaja and Yayuk Basuki. She honed her skills playing college tennis at Oregon and Pepperdine, where she was the NCAA doubles runner-up in 2024, and decided to pursue a professional career following graduation. Tjen's success at the US Open has been hailed as a breakthrough moment for Indonesian and Southeast Asian tennis, inspiring future players from the region. Her upcoming match against Raducanu promises to be a highlight of the tournament, spotlighting her remarkable rise in the sport.