Indonesian tennis player makes history by winning the WTA Tour title

Janice Tjen has had a breakthrough 2025 season, alongside Alexandra Eala, emerging as one of Southeast Asia's top tennis prospects.

Janice Tjen, a young Indonesian player, marked a career milestone by capturing her first WTA Tour title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kimberly Birrell in the Chennai Open 2025 final held last night on November 2nd, Vietnam time.

This victory places Tjen among the exclusive group of Indonesian players who have won WTA Tour titles in the Open Era, joining Yayuk Basuki—who claimed six titles between 1991 and 1994—and Angelique Widjaja, who won at Bali in 2001 and Pattaya City in 2002. Notably, when Widjaja won her second title in November 2002, Tjen was only five months old.

Earlier, in September, Tjen came close to glory by reaching her first WTA final in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but was defeated by French player Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Nevertheless, this achievement helped her break into the world top 100, becoming the first Indonesian player to do so since Widjaja in 2004. After her triumph in India, Tjen is expected to rise from rank 82 to near the WTA top 50.

Both Tjen and Birrell endured tough journeys to reach the final, especially Birrell, who staged a remarkable comeback in the semifinals after trailing 0-5 in the deciding set and saving five match points against Joanna Garland. However, in the final, Tjen showed remarkable composure, saving 12 of 14 break points and converting 5 of 6 opportunities to secure a convincing win.

The 23-year-old even won her WTA Tour title earlier than Alexandra Eala, another Southeast Asian tennis sensation rising this year. Eala’s best Tour result is runner-up at the Eastbourne Open (losing to Maya Joint), along with one WTA 125 title and five ITF World Tennis Tour trophies.

Janice Tjen's joy continued as she teamed up with compatriot Aldila Sutjiadi, Indonesia’s doubles specialist, to win the women's doubles title by defeating Storm Hunter and Monica Niculescu 7-5, 6-4. This marks Tjen’s second WTA doubles title after her recent victory at the Guangzhou Open, while Sutjiadi raised her total doubles titles to six.

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