Janice Tjen delivered the biggest win of her career in São Paulo, toppling third seed Alexandra Eala 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the Brazilian WTA 250 event. The 23-year-old Indonesian qualifier, ranked No.130, surged back from 0-3 down in the opening set to claim 12 of the last 14 games and secure a historic berth in her first WTA semifinal.
Eala, riding a seven-match winning streak and coming off a WTA 125 title in Guadalajara, was a heavy favorite. But Tjen played with calm resolve and fearless aggression, refusing to be rattled by the early scoreboard pressure or the local crowd’s support for her higher-ranked opponent.
Tjen Flips the Script After Early Deficit
Eala opened with authority, breaking at love and consolidating to a quick 3-0 lead. But Tjen, known for her mental toughness on the ITF circuit, adjusted her tactics and clawed back into the set. She broke serve, leveled at 3-all, and then went on a blistering run, outlasting the Filipina in key rallies and punishing her second serve.
Tjen claimed six of the final seven games in the opening set, sealing it 6-4 after 39 minutes. She won 73% of her first-serve points, a key difference from Eala’s 59%, and showed remarkable poise in the pressure moments.
Tjen vs Eala – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Tjen | Eala |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.07 | 0.93 |
| Serve Rating | 244 | 230 |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 4 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 52% (15/29) | 63% (17/27) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 73% (11/15) | 59% (10/17) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 43% (6/14) | 50% (5/10) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/1) | 33% (1/3) |
| Service Games | 80% (4/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Ace % | 0% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 13.8% | 7.4% |
| Return Rating | 198 | 204 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 41% (7/17) | 27% (4/15) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 50% (5/10) | 57% (8/14) |
| Break Points Won | 67% (2/3) | 100% (1/1) |
| Return Games | 40% (2/5) | 20% (1/5) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (2/4) | 50% (2/4) |
| Service Points | 59% (17/29) | 56% (15/27) |
| Return Points | 44% (12/27) | 41% (12/29) |
| Total Points | 52% (29/56) | 48% (27/56) |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 8 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games | 80% (4/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Return Games | 40% (2/5) | 20% (1/5) |
| Total Games | 60% (6/10) | 40% (4/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 3 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h 39m | |
Clean Serving, Relentless Return Game Seal the Win
The momentum carried over into the second set. Tjen broke for a 2-1 lead and never looked back. Eala’s first-serve percentage dipped to just 52%, and she failed to win a single point on her second serve in the set—an opening Tjen exploited with ruthless efficiency.
Saving two crucial break points to hold for 3-1, Tjen tightened the screws, unleashing deep returns and sharp angles. She reeled off another string of games to close the match 6-1, winning her last three return games and finishing with a clean, confident hold.
Tjen vs Eala – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Tjen | Eala |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 2.01 | 0.50 |
| Serve Rating | 288 | 144 |
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 55% (12/22) | 52% (13/25) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 83% (10/12) | 69% (9/13) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% (5/10) | 0% (0/12) |
| Break Points Saved | 100% (2/2) | 25% (1/4) |
| Service Games | 100% (3/3) | 25% (1/4) |
| Ace % | 9.1% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 9.1% | 8% |
| Return Rating | 281 | 67 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 31% (4/13) | 17% (2/12) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 100% (12/12) | 50% (5/10) |
| Break Points Won | 75% (3/4) | 0% (0/2) |
| Return Games | 75% (3/4) | 0% (0/3) |
| Pressure Points | 83% (5/6) | 17% (1/6) |
| Service Points | 68% (15/22) | 36% (9/25) |
| Return Points | 64% (16/25) | 32% (7/22) |
| Total Points | 66% (31/47) | 34% (16/47) |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 2 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 1 |
| Service Games | 100% (3/3) | 25% (1/4) |
| Return Games | 75% (3/4) | 0% (0/3) |
| Total Games | 86% (6/7) | 14% (1/7) |
| Max Games In A Row | 6 | 1 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h 34m | |
Breakthrough Moment for Rising Indonesian Star
The victory propels Tjen into the WTA Top 115, her highest-ever ranking. A semifinal appearance in a WTA main draw marks a massive milestone in the 23-year-old’s career, as she edges closer to a Top 100 breakthrough.
For Tjen, who battled through qualifying rounds to even reach the main draw, this week in Brazil has been a statement of intent. She now turns her attention to the semifinals, brimming with confidence and backed by the results to prove she belongs on the sport’s biggest stages.
All Sao Paulo Results including full match stats of this match.