In just her fourth career WTA-level event, Janice Tjen has become the first Indonesian to win a title since Angelique Widjaja in 2002 in Pattaya City.
Tjen, who beat Caroline Werner, Linda Fruhvirtova, Mia Pohankova to reach the final, defeated Kimberly Birrell of Australia, 6-4, 6-3.
Tjen saved 12 of 13 break points in the first set and withstood a late push from Birrell to close out the win.
At this year’s US Open, where she upset Veronika Kudermetova in the first round in her main draw debut, Tjen, who played college tennis at the University of Oregon and Pepperdine University, said she was on the fence about trying a professional career two years ago.
“I studied sociology,” she told reporters. “I think throughout my college years I was always thinking about whether I should go for it or not. And I guess in the end, I decided to give it a try. The coaches at Pepperdine said to me, ‘I think you should give it a try, at least for two years.’
“So I trusted them and here I am.”
Tjen, who said she modeled her game after former world No. 1 Ash Barty, likes to attack and get to the net.
The 23-year-old has done so well during her first season on the tour, and now boasts a 10-3 overall record.
