Proving that tennis is truly becoming an international sport, the WTA 250 Sao Paulo Open quarterfinal match featured Indonesian Janice Tjen against Alex Eala of the Philippines.
World No. 61 Eala is coming off her maiden WTA title, a WTA 125 win in Guadalajara last week, and Tjen, currently ranked at World No. 130, has won 60 matches this year, earning 6 ITF titles.
WHAT A MOMENT 🌟
An unforgettable match for Janice Tjen, who beats No.3 seed Eala 6-4, 6-1 for her first Tour-level semifinal!#SPOpen pic.twitter.com/B0mPyGGk3w
— wta (@WTA) September 12, 2025
Tjen is seeking her maiden WTA title.
Janice Tjen Started Off Slow
She got down 0-3 in the first set before fighting her way back into the match. Eala had some loose points, and her serve left her down also.
Tjen won 12 of the final 14 games with an impressive serve, minimal unforced errors, and great shotmaking.
This is the biggest win of Tjen’s career as the 23 year old continues to ascend the rankings.
Tjen played college tennis in the US starting at the University of Oregon in 2020 and graduating from Pepperdine University in 2024.
Janice Tjen recorded 23 winners, 16 unforced errors, and 6 double faults in the straight set win.
Alex Eala Looked Tired
Near the end of the match, Alex Eala looked tired which would not be surprising because she played and won in Guadalajara last week and came straights to Sao Paulo immediately thereafter.
Eala’s serve continues to be a huge problem.
It should be a weapon partly because she is a left hander, but she has very little power, spin, or speed on it.
After the match, Janice Tjen was reserved in her celebration and said that she kept playing hard knowing that Eala is a fighter and can never be counted out.
Eala has been welcomed with open arms by the Brazilian fans who nicknamed her “Filiprima.”
Love from your Filiprima ❤️
We love you, Alex Eala! 🇵🇭🤝🇧🇷
📹: SP Open | @WTA pic.twitter.com/gstI6qQwsz
— SP Open (@spopenoficial) September 10, 2025
