Janice Tjen's road to the Cincinnati third round was a rollercoaster, to say the least. The Indonesian tennis star, ranked 37th on the WTA Tour, faced a grueling battle against Viktorija Golubic, lasting over three hours and ending in a thrilling 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-5 victory.
What made this match particularly memorable was the dramatic turn of events. Tjen, leading 5-1 in the second set and with five match points, seemed to have the match in the bag. But Golubic fought back, forcing a deciding third set. Tjen's resilience and determination shone through as she won the final three games, celebrating her arms in triumph.
In her post-match interview, Tjen reflected on the challenging journey, stating, "It was tough, definitely. 5-1 up, few match points in the second. Obviously, things didn't go the way that I wanted to in the second set. In the third set, I just kept fighting until the end, and luckily it went my way."
This victory marks Tjen's first third-round appearance since Dubai, where she reached the Round of 16. It's been a season of ups and downs for the Indonesian player, but she's finding her rhythm back on the hard courts, her preferred surface.
Tjen's journey to Cincinnati included a pitstop back home to Indonesia, where she was pleasantly surprised by the growth of the tennis community. She spent two weeks there, enjoying the sport's resurgence and even going undercover under the alias 'Brenda' to immerse herself in the local tennis culture.
However, the transition back to the hard courts in Cincinnati hasn't been without its challenges. The slick conditions and warmer temperatures have made the courts a bit tricky for Tjen, who prefers a higher, bouncy surface. Despite this, she's excited to face a top-10 player, Mirra Andreeva, in her next match.
Tjen's performance in Cincinnati is a testament to her resilience and adaptability. As she continues her journey on the WTA Tour, her ability to bounce back from setbacks and embrace new challenges will be key to her success.
