Janice Tjen has achieved the top spot as the leading women’s player in Indonesia, securing a WTA singles title and three doubles championships along her journey. The 23-year-old rose to No. 53 in the WTA singles rankings last November, with her coaches anticipating even greater success ahead.
Tjen showcased her progress by causing an upset in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, defeating Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. Despite Fernandez being the 22nd seed in the tournament, she was defeated by Tjen with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (1) in one hour and 43 minutes.
During the match, Tjen recorded four aces, 17 winners, six double faults, and 27 unforced errors, while Fernandez managed two aces, 16 winners, five double faults, and 28 unforced errors. Tjen capitalized on break points, winning four out of seven, and return games, securing four out of 10, to earn a victory.
Moving forward, Tjen will face Karolina Pliskova from Czechia in the next round. In another match, Toronto’s Victoria Mboko, the sole Canadian woman to win her first-round singles match, partnered with American Iva Jovic to defeat Ulrikke Eikeri and Ingrid Neel in the opening-round women’s doubles match.
Mboko and Jovic won the match in one hour and 31 minutes, with three aces, two double faults, and a 70% first serve point win rate. They excelled in return games, winning four out of 10 games compared to their opponents’ two out of 11. Mboko and Jovic will now face the winner between Sorana Cirstea and Anna Kalinskaya or the fourth-seeded duo of Elise Mertens and Shuai Zhang.
In a swift victory, Jannik Sinner progressed in the Australian Open as his opponent, Hugo Gaston, retired due to an injury. Sinner, aiming for a three-peat at the tournament, expressed disappointment at the abrupt end to the match.
Additionally, Naomi Osaka made a striking entrance onto the court with a unique outfit and parasol, eventually winning her match against Antonia Ruzic. The competition saw various other players making their mark, showcasing their skills and determination on the courts.