Indonesian 23-year-old Janice Tjen made a stunning Grand Slam main-draw debut at the US Open, defeating 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The upset came on a big stage in New York and marked a historic moment for Indonesian tennis: the first Grand Slam win by a player from the country in 22 years, since Angelique Widjaja’s Wimbledon triumph in 2003.
Tjen announced herself by overcoming Kudermetova, who has been a steady presence on the WTA tour and a former Open-era standout. The Indonesian had not previously played on the main WTA Tour nor defeated a top-25 opponent, underscoring how unlikely this result was. After the win, she celebrated on the court in a memorable kneel, signaling the significance of the moment.
This season, Tjen has been on a dominant run, posting 46 wins in 51 matches, a performance that helped propel her into the spotlight even before this breakthrough in New York. Kudermetova, by contrast, had recent Grand Slam experience, reaching the second week at the Australian Open and the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2022, and going out in the second round at Wimbledon that year.
The victory carries a hopeful message for Indonesian tennis and Asian players on the global stage: a rising talent breaking through at a sport often dominated by players from other regions. It will be watched closely to see how Tjen builds on this historic win as the US Open progresses.