Janice Tjen claims maiden WTA title in Chennai Open, leaving her on cusp of top 50 rankings debut after incredible rise in 2025

Janice Tjen continues to make a name for herself after she picked up the Chennai Open title, defeating Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-3 to clinch her maiden WTA title.

After previous success in China, Tjen moved away from the 125 events to compete in the WTA 250 event in India, hungry for more glory. She opened her campaign with a win over Caroline Werner before defeating the reigning champion from 2022 Linda Fruhvirtova in three sets. The fourth seed would not drop a set on her run to the final, breezing past Mia Pohankova and Lanlana Tararudee to reach her second WTA final.

27-year-old Birrell was in the same situation as her opponent. Previously losing her only WTA final last year in the Japan Open, she was determined to get it right this time. She got the better of Nikola Bartunkova, Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic and Joanna Garland, who she survived two match points against.

The Indonesian got off to the perfect start, breaking the serve before preventing her Aussie rival from clinching one of her own. Birrell would have five more opportunities in the fourth game which saw an incredible 11 deuces before Tjen eventually made it 3-1. Birrell would finally secure a break to make it 3-3, but her hardwork was instantly undone by Tjen who broke to love and before sailing into a 5-3 lead. She would claim her third set point to move her halfway from the title in Chennai.

As the second set commenced, Tjen was not wasting anytime in wrapping this match up, flying out into an ominous 4-0 lead. Birrell would need to produce something incredible to get back into this final. She won three games on the bounce including one of the necessary breaks of throws, and would fail to take a solitary break point to level at 4-4. The 23-year-old made it 5-3 before taking her second championship point for the title in India.

Tjen's incredible rise has astounded tennis fans this year. Starting the year as the world number 578, she was very much unknown in the mainstream tennis world. However, she has shot herself up into relevancy with a host of exceptional performances. She won on her Grand Slam debut in the US Open before bowing out to Emma Raducanu, and was runner-up in the Sao Paulo Open, losing out in the WTA 250 event to Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in straight sets. Her triumph today has launched her to a new high-ranking of 53rd in the world, shooting her up 29 places. It could get even better for her, with the Indonesian also competing in the double's final in Chennai. Partnered with fellow countrywomen Aldila Sutjiadi, they will be gunning for glory against the number one seeds Storm Hunter and Monica Niculescu.