Andreeva eliminates Tjen 6-2, 6-2 in US Open first round

Mirra Andreeva is many things: a teenager, a top-five player, and a Grand Slam champion. The nineteen-year-old won her maiden slam title this past May at Roland Garros and in a very short time, has amassed quite a resume.

In addition to her French Open crown, she has claimed five additional WTA titles, including two at the 1000 level last season, which she won back-to-back. After making three consecutive main draw appearances in New York, her best performance to date was last year when she reached the third round (l. Townsend).

While this is the third day of the tournament, it was a first-round match that had the potential to pose challenges. Her opponent has also made headlines as she continues to announce her presence on Tour. Janice Tjen from Indonesia played collegiate tennis at both the University of Oregon and Pepperdine University, from which she graduated in 2024 with a degree in Sociology.  
The 24-year-old won her first and only WTA Tour title to date last fall on an outdoor hardcourt at the Chennai Open. She reached a career-high ranking of 35 at the end of August and just missed a seed.

 (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Last season she won three qualifying matches to make her maiden US Open main draw. In her opening match, she defeated the 24th seed, Veronika Kudermetova, before losing in the following round to 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu.  

This was their second tour-level meeting, having competed two weeks ago in the third round at the Cincinnati Open, which Andreeva clinched 6-1, 7-6.

Tjen served first and, though she led 40-15, faced two deuce points before holding while Andreeva made 5/5 first serves and held to 15 to level. Tjen opened the third with a potent serve out wide and held to 30 while Andreeva donated three unforced errors, including a double fault, yet held for 2-2.

Tjen gifted her first double fault and dumped serve when Andreeva pummeled a forehand down the line. The reigning French Open champion opened the sixth with a stunning squash crosscourt forehand and, with another winning crosscourt forehand, held at love to consolidate the break.

Tjen, serving down 2-4, watched another forehand winner wiz by on the opening point and dropped serve following three consecutive unforced errors. The world #5 made 4/4 first serves, including an ace up the tee, and in 37 minutes, secured the set 6-2.

Tjen left the court following the conclusion of the opening set. It served her well as she struck her first ace and, with another unreturnable, held to 30. Andreeva opened with a remarkable running forehand pass down the line and, with a running crosscourt backhand pass, held at love to level.

Tjen missed 3/6 first serves, including another double fault to dump serve. Andreeva struck three outstanding winners, including another ace for a love hold to consolidate the break for 3-1. Tjen opened the fifth with another forehand error but, with a fabulous forehand down the line, held easily to 15 for 2-3.

Andreeva continued to dictate play with successful patterns and meticulous court positioning. Despite opening the sixth with her second double fault, the fifth seed struck two consecutive winners, including an overhead smash on game point to lead 4-2.

Tjen missed 4/6 first serves and struck two sensational winning forehands, but it was all for naught as she dropped serve following two consecutive unforced errors.

Andreeva served for the match and did she serve! The teenager hit two consecutive aces and secured her spot in the second round with an overhead smash.

This was not the closely contested match I had expected. Andreeva put on a clinic, and while she might have wanted more of a challenge, she will glean confidence from her unwavering focus and disciplined play.

She finished with two aces and two double faults while winning 86% of first and 71% of second serve points. She was equally effective when returning, winning an impressive 41% of first and 68% of second serve return points. She converted 4/4 break points while not facing one.

Her second round opponent is Eva Lys from Germany. The twenty-four- year-old is currently ranked #98 but reached a career high of #39 this past January. This will be their first tour-level meeting.