New Delhi: Rising Indonesian tennis star Janice Tjen has quickly become one of the most high-profile breakthrough stories in the sport. After a stunning 2025 season, she made history by winning the Chennai Open, ending Indonesia’s 23-year wait for the WTA singles title and breaking into the top 50, becoming the first Indonesian woman to do so this century. The 23-year-old tennis player has soared from an unranked college tennis graduate to a career-high ranking of No. 36 (as of February 2026) in less than two years, with 77 wins, eight titles and a 27-match winning streak. With a US Open debut, a São Paulo final and a fascinating journey that almost saw her quit the sport, Janice is now a proud symbol of Indonesia’s return to the global tennis stage. Excerpts from the interview… Q) You went from college tennis to the top 40 in less than two years. What has been the hardest adjustment? Janice: The first few months were hard. College tennis is at an incredible level in the United States. But I think the most different part is, in college, you’re playing for something bigger than yourself, like you’re part of a team and you have people behind you supporting you. All of a sudden, you’re a pro and you have no one by your side. Compared with college, it is really lonely. Q) Win your first Women’s Tennis Association Chennai Open champion, what does this victory mean to you and Indonesian tennis? Janice: It means a lot. It’s huge. I had already had a successful year even before this win, and it was so motivating to end the year and the season with a Tour title. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to come so quickly. I am extremely proud to have put Indonesia back on the global tennis stage. Q) Does being the first Indonesian to win a WTA title in more than two decades give you pressure or motivation? Janice: I would say motivation. I didn’t think too much and I knew that Indonesia would always have my back as long as I kept working hard and doing my best. I think I’m very proud to be a part of that. Q) Was there a turning point game or week that changed your beliefs as a player? Janice: I would say maybe the second half, the U.S. Open. For me to be able to qualify for the U.S. Open and then be able to get to the first round and win a round, it means a lot to me. I think it helped me a lot with my confidence and trusting my level. Q) You almost quit before turning pro. What happened? Janice: I know tennis is very demanding. You basically have to travel every week of your life and that was a very tough ask for me. I don’t really enjoy traveling and considering that I couldn’t enjoy it being away from home for so long, I decided to call it quits. But I have a lot of good people around me who keep convincing me to give it a try. I decided to trust them and carry on. Q) In 2025 you played more than 90 games. How do you maintain physical and mental consistency? Janice: I have a great team around me. My coach Chris Bint is a very positive person and he always brings optimism to me which helps me a lot. He is very knowledgeable and knows how to keep my body healthy and makes sure I stay healthy and avoid injuries. Q) What are your thoughts on India hosting the BJK Cup and how prepared are they? Janice: I think this is huge for India. I know they hosted the Group 1 tournament in Pune last year and I heard a lot of good things about the BJK Cup. With many Indians joining, it means a lot to the country.
