Indonesian Tennis Star Janice Tjen Ends 23-Year Drought with Historic Chennai Open Title
CHENNAI, INDIA – Indonesian tennis player Janice Tjen (23) cemented her breakout season by capturing the biggest title of her career, defeating Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in straight sets in the final of the WTA 250 Chennai Open 2025 on Sunday.
Tjen, the fourth seed in the tournament, delivered a dominant performance to secure the championship with a final score of 6–4, 6–3. This victory is monumental for Indonesian tennis, as Tjen is the first Indonesian woman to win a WTA Tour singles title since Angelique Widjaja achieved the feat in 2002, ending a 23-year dry spell for the nation.
“I think I played really well here, getting better every round, and today I was able to play my best tennis,” Tjen said following the two-hour match, as quoted by the WTA.
A Season of Breakthroughs
Tjen’s run in Chennai was defined by composure and mental toughness, particularly after several top seeds withdrew and play was delayed due to the Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha. Her resilience was evident in the earlier rounds:
- Round of 16 Upset: Tjen showed her class by rallying from a set down to defeat the defending champion from 2022, Czech player Linda Fruhvirtová, in three sets.
- Semifinal Thriller: She secured her spot in the final through a hard-fought battle against Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand, winning two consecutive tiebreaks, 7–6(6), 7–6(5).
The win in Chennai completes a spectacular 2025 season for Tjen. Earlier in the year, she became the first Indonesian woman since 2004 to reach a Grand Slam main draw (US Open, where she won her first-round match), reached her first WTA 250 final in São Paulo, and claimed a WTA 250 doubles title in Guangzhou.
Ranking Projected to Soar
The 250 points Tjen earned from her championship run are expected to cause a massive jump in her WTA ranking. Starting the week around World No. 82, her ranking is projected to surge by nearly 30 spots, potentially landing her around World No. 53 in the official rankings released on Monday. This achievement solidifies her position as Indonesia’s leading tennis star and a rising force on the international circuit.
Tjen’s success, both in singles and doubles this year, has injected significant hope and momentum into Indonesian tennis, signaling a vibrant new chapter for the sport in the country.
Prize Money
By winning the WTA 250 Chennai Open singles title, Janice Tjen secured the top share of the tournament’s total prize money commitment of $275,094.
As the singles champion of a WTA 250 event, Tjen earned a prize money check of $36,300.
This significant sum added to Tjen’s already stellar earnings for the year, which included the money earned from her runner-up finish at the WTA 250 São Paulo Open, where she earned $21,484, and the prize money from reaching the second round of the US Open, further highlighting the financial success of her breakout 2025 season.
