British tennis star Emma Raducanu made quick work of her Japanese opponent in Sunday’s first round of the US Open. Now the 22-year-old faces a compelling second-round matchup against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, an unseeded player who’s already made history at this tournament. Raducanu knows this venue well, having shocked the tennis world by winning the US Open as an 18-year-old in 2021.
How Did Janice Tjen Make History Before Facing Emma Raducanu?
Tjen’s path to this showdown began with a stunning upset victory over No. 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova in Sunday’s first round. The former sociology student from Pepperdine University became the first Indonesian player to win a Grand Slam singles match in over two decades. Now she gets her chance against a former Grand Slam champion.
The Indonesian expressed genuine admiration for her upcoming opponent. Tjen said, “When Emma won the tournament and was having an incredible run here, I was actually in college, and I was injured at the time, so I got to watch a lot of tennis.”
She added, “Just seeing her doing it made me inspired to be able to do it, as well. Emma is very big. Everyone loves Emma at home. She’s a very well-known player, and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”
Indonesia’s first win in a Grand Slam main draw in 22 years! 🥹🇮🇩
Janice Tjen pulls off the upset over No.24 seed Kudermetova. pic.twitter.com/1I6ZWrJtpQ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2025
The weight of representing her Southeast Asian nation clearly motivates Tjen. She explained the significance of her breakthrough performance: “It means a lot. I feel proud to be able to do this for my country. Hopefully, by me making an appearance here, it will help inspire more tennis players, younger kids to play tennis and also believing that they can be here too.”
What’s Different About Raducanu’s Approach at the 2025 US Open?
Raducanu has always been known as an analytical player who studies opponents’ statistics and watches game highlights before matches. However, the British No. 1 has shifted her focus for this tournament, concentrating more on her own game than dissecting her opponents.
“I would keep everything how it was four years ago…but I think I’m actually on a more positive side of it and I’m happy with how I feel.” 😊@EmmaRaducanu reflects on when she won the US Open 💙 pic.twitter.com/Lh1flI790O
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 24, 2025
This strategic change reflects Raducanu’s growing confidence in her abilities. “I think I’m probably watching less now. I just have a good awareness of the opponent, what they like to do and a lot more centred around me. I think I’m trusting myself, trusting my own abilities, a lot more and I know what I need to do on the court as well, not necessarily searching so much to the box, asking for what to do, only if I feel like I really need it,” the Brit explained.
She added, “I think that’s helped me keep myself in the match, my head in the match, rather than looking up, getting distracted and kind of searching for something.” This mental shift appears to be paying dividends. Raducanu reached the semifinals of the Washington Open earlier this year and proved she can compete with the world’s best, pushing World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in tough matches at Cincinnati and Wimbledon.
