US OPEN

August 24, 2025

Janice Tjen

Press Conference

J. TJEN/V. Kudermetova

6-4, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Your thoughts on your play today.

JANICE TJEN: I think I am pretty happy with how I played today, being able to execute everything that me and my coaches have planned. Pretty satisfied with it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Start from the beginning. How did you get into tennis? Not been a ton of top pro-level players from Indonesia before. How did you find tennis and decide to continue playing all the way to this level?

JANICE TJEN: I started playing tennis because of my good friend. She's also on tour. Her name is Priska Madelyn Nugroho. I'm actually friends with her before tennis, and she's, like, Oh, do you want to try playing tennis? My parents just like, Yeah, just go play the sport, just having exercise. So I'm not going to be in my room just doing nothing (smiling).

Yeah, that's how I started.

Q. About today's match, you took first set and then you were leading in the second set, and let her get back. What is your mindset when you go to third set? How did you manage to finish that? And match point, it's amazing. Can you talk a little bit about how you made the decision to go to the net at the match point.

JANICE TJEN: I think, like, on the second set, she started lifting her level as well. I didn't play, like, as well on one of my service games, I would say. On the third set, I just tried to, like, learn from that and trying to just, like, focus a little bit more, trying to be more composed and trying not to hit the panic button, yeah.

Q. And coming to the net?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, we've been working on that, me and my coach have been working on that, just making sure that if it is a 50/50, we're going in, coming into the net. And we, I would say, we have a pretty good percentage of winning up at the net, so we would want to make more appearance up there.

Q. When Emma Raducanu won the US Open, I think you were at Pepperdine University. Can you talk about that? Were you playing tennis in that time? How big is Raducanu in Jakarta, Bali?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, when Emma won the tournament and having an incredible run here, I was actually in college, and I was injured at the time, so I get to watch a lot of tennis.

Just seeing her doing it makes me, like, inspired me, like, to be able to do it, as well.

Yeah, Emma is very big. Like, everyone loves Emma at home (smiling). Yeah.

Q. A lot of people have been discovering your game over the past year with how much you've won. A lot of people seem to think your game resembles Ash Barty's. What do you think of that, with your slice, topspin on your forehand? Did you ever look up to her at all?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, I have been hearing that a lot, and yeah, she's, I would say, like, my role model. I would, like, watch a little bit of her matches and try to, like, copy, like, what works for me, what's not, and just trying to, like, understand, like, her game more, a little bit more.

Q. In general, where does your variety come from? When you were younger, did you play in that way with the slice and come to the net, or was that something that developed?

JANICE TJEN: I think I've played a little bit like that before, and I think in college, like, the coaches have, throughout college and now, I think the coaches that I've been working with have developed my game a little bit more.

Q. It's been a long time since a player from Indonesia won a Grand Slam main draw match. What does that mean to you? How much of a motivation is it to make history for your country?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, it means a lot. I feel proud to be able to do this for my country. Hopefully like this, by me making appearance here, will help, will inspire more tennis player, like, younger kids to play tennis and also, like, believing that, like, they can be here too.

Q. What has it been like since I guess Friday when you qualified? Have you gotten a lot of messages and calls in the last couple of days?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, I've been getting a lot of notification and try to, like, be as smart as possible with reading all the messages (smiling).

It's been nice to feel the support.

Q. What were your emotions when it hit you that you had won this match and made this kind of history? What are your thoughts about the opportunity you have in facing Emma?

JANICE TJEN: I think I'm still not processing the emotion, like everything yet, because it's been a quick turnaround since I have gotten done with the match.

Yeah, I'm very happy that, like, being able to advance and got a little bit emotional there. But yeah, very happy (smiling).

Q. Now facing Emma, what are your thoughts about that match and the opportunity?

JANICE TJEN: It's going to be -- well, my first thought is just like it's going to be a big crowd, I would say, a bigger crowd playing against her. Like, she's very well-known player, and I'm just excited for the opportunity.

Q. Have you ever been that emotional before on a tennis court? What was it like having that hug with your coach after the match? What did you guys speak about, if anything?

JANICE TJEN: Probably not, like, I actually maybe teared up a little bit.

Yeah, we actually haven't spoke about anything yet. Just, like, he just said that, I'm proud of you. Happy that, like, our game plan worked.

Q. I heard you're a video game player. Any favorite video games now?

JANICE TJEN: Well, me and my coach have been battling with Mario Kart. We've been grinding on that one.

Q. Who's your character of choice in Mario Kart?

JANICE TJEN: Yoshi.

Q. Why Yoshi?

JANICE TJEN: I don't know. I've been Mario Kart since I was really young and it's always my go-to character. And I would be a little bit not happy if somebody took that and I would be like, Nope, that's my character.

Yeah, I don't know, I guess I love green and, like, just dinosaur-like. Yeah.

Q. Just wondered what was it like growing up playing tennis in Indonesia? Do you have some support from the Foundation? Is it more your family supporting you playing?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, I mean, growing up, I think my parents has been very supportive, and like, whether I want to keep pursuing playing tennis. They're just guiding me a lot with, like, my pathway going to play pro. It's never been easy with, like -- it's an expensive sport. Like, we have to travel a lot.

So, like, my parents guide me to do it through like college pathway.

Q. What did you study at college? Was it ever a decision to go down the academic route?

JANICE TJEN: I studied sociology. I think during my college years I'm always, like, contemplating if I should go for it; should I not. And I think, like, at the end, I decided to try it out, and, like, the coaches at Pepperdine told me I think you should give it a try, at least for two years. So I trust them, and here I am (smiling).

Q. Aldila Sutjiadi is another Indonesian player. What is your relationship with her? What does it mean for you having won a bronze medal in Asian Games in the doubles?

JANICE TJEN: Yeah, I am really, really close with Aldila. She's always been like a good older sister to me, taking care of me, guiding me, and telling me, like, this is what you need to do. She's also one of the people that convinced me that I should give it a try. Yeah, it's been nice. It's very nice to be around another Indonesian here.