New York, August 24, 2025 – On a thrilling opening day at the US Open, two young qualifiers—Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and Czechia’s Tereza Valentova—sent ripples through the women’s draw by booking their spots in the second round with standout victories.
Janice Tjen Ends Indonesia’s Grand Slam Drought with Stunning Upset
Janice Tjen, a 23-year-old from Jakarta, marked a historic breakthrough by becoming the first Indonesian woman in 21 years to reach a Grand Slam singles main draw. Ranked at a career-high No. 147, the right-hander with a one-handed backhand carved her path through qualifying—culminating in a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over Aoi Ito.
Her momentum didn’t stop there. In the first round of the main draw, Tjen delivered a statement: she upset 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in a tight three-set battle, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The significance was immense—she became the first Indonesian to reach this stage in two decades, shining in her Grand Slam debut.
Her story is also one of persistence and growth. A standout at Pepperdine University, Tjen collected ITF titles and represented Indonesia with distinction at the 2022 Asian Games, claiming a doubles bronze medal. Her journey from collegiate tennis to the global stage is nothing short of extraordinary.
Tereza Valentova’s Breakthrough: From Junior Glory to Grand Slam Success
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Tereza Valentova of Czechia continued a rapid ascent that began with her dominant junior career. In 2024, she captured both the girls’ singles and doubles titles at Roland-Garros—emerging from the first-ever all-Czech girls’ final at a Grand Slam.
Valentova carried that momentum into the professional ranks, qualifying for the US Open with steady composure. In round one, she dismantled Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, the country’s second-ranked player, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Bronzetti, an established WTA competitor and former Top 50 name, proved the perfect test of whether Valentova was ready for the big stage. She passed with authority.
Already a semifinalist at the Prague Open and a multiple WTA 125 champion, Valentova has been flagged in her home country as a future star. At just 18, she is already inside the world’s Top 100 and climbing with every tournament.
Looking Ahead: Second Round Showdowns
Both players now face formidable opponents in round two:
- Janice Tjen meets former champion Emma Raducanu, who herself has Asian roots and won against Japan’s Ena Shibahara. For Tjen, it’s another chance to shock the tennis establishment.
- Tereza Valentova, riding the dual momentum of junior Grand Slam triumph and senior breakthrough, eyes a deeper run in her first major main draw, having already dispatched a WTA regular. If Elena Rybakina makes it to the second round, she must be on her game.
A Shared Spotlight
As New York enters night play, flashes of these rising stars remind us why WTA tennis continues to captivate: on any given day, new talent can ignite, rewriting expectations—one upset at a time.