Janice Tjen, the top-ranked female tennis player in Indonesia, has achieved notable success with one WTA singles title and three doubles championships. At 23 years old, she peaked at No. 53 in the WTA singles rankings in November, with her coaches anticipating further progress. Tjen showcased her improvement by upsetting Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Despite Fernandez being the 22nd seed, Tjen defeated her 6-2, 7-6 (1) in an 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 and return games more effectively, winning the match. She is set to face Karolina Pliskova from Czechia in the next round.
In the women’s doubles event, Toronto’s Victoria Mboko, the only Canadian woman to win her first-round singles match, paired up with American Iva Jovic to defeat Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway and Ingrid Neel of Estonia. The duo clinched victory in straight sets, showcasing a strong performance with a high first-serve percentage and dominance in return games. Mboko and Jovic are now scheduled to play against the winner of another match in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner swiftly advanced in the Australian Open, as his opponent, Hugo Gaston, retired due to an injury when Sinner was leading 6-2, 6-1. Sinner, aiming for a third consecutive Australian Open title, expressed his disappointment at the abrupt end to the match. Additionally, Naomi Osaka made a stylish entrance onto the court and secured a victory in her match. Another notable outcome was the defeat of former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens in the first round.
In other matches, Ben Shelton overcame Ugo Humbert in a tight contest, while Lorenzo Musetti advanced after his opponent retired due to cramping and dizziness. The tournament witnessed several players progressing to the next round, including Eliot Spizzirri, Karen Khachanov, and Sebastian Baez.