There is little doubt that Janice Tjen has been the most consistent player if not the most flamboyant in the WTA 250 Chennai Open tennis tournament. And it was fitting that the 23-year-old Indonesian produced her best in the final against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell to prevail 6-4, 6-3 in two hours at the SDAT-Nungambakkam Stadium here on Sunday.
For Tjen, this is her first WTA 250 title after being in the final of the Sao Paulo Open in September this year. From being just outside the top 400 (412) at the end of last year to be in the top 100 (82) now, she has never had it so good.
Against Birrell, who produces powerful forehand and backhand, Tjen knew she had to use her forehand — her lone source of weapon and she did that to perfection on many occasions when the going was tough.
In the first set, Tjen and Birrell fought tooth and nail. While Tjen broke the Australian in the first and seventh games, Birrell broke back the Australian in the sixth game to equalise 3-3. With a series of forehand winners, Tjen broke Birrell at love in the crucial seventh game.
Never a quitter, Birrell battled with all her might in the second set. But the Indonesian had the last laugh. Tjen became the first Indonesian player to win a WTA Tour title after Angelique Widjaja in 2002.
“It was a heartbreaking loss when I finished runner-up in the final of the Sao Paulo Open. I am happy I came out better in the end today,” she said.
The results: Final: Janice Tjen (Ina) bt Kimberly Birrell (Aus) 6-4, 6-3.