Tjen and Valentova Ignite Australian Open Upsets
Under Melbourne’s blazing sun, qualifiers Janice Tjen and Tereza Valentova dismantled seeded favorites on Day 3, turning early-round pressure into breakthrough momentum at the Australian Open.
On a scorching Tuesday afternoon in Melbourne, the Australian Open’s third day crackled with underdog energy as Janice Tjen and Tereza Valentova upended the draw’s expectations. Tjen, the Indonesian qualifier fresh off her US Open stunner against No. 24 Veronika Kudermetova, faced No. 22 Leylah Fernandez in her Melbourne debut. What followed was a 6–2, 7–6(1) clinic in 1 hour and 43 minutes, Tjen’s poise turning the heat into her ally while Fernandez’s comebacks fizzled in the humidity.
Tjen’s serve builds unbreakable momentum
Tjen’s first set unfolded like a controlled demolition, her serve landing with 100% effectiveness on first balls that stretched Fernandez wide and deep. She broke at 3–2 after a crosscourt forehand pinned the Canadian behind the baseline, then claimed the last four games with heavy topspin that gripped the sun-baked hard courts. The crowd at ANZ Arena shifted from cautious applause to rising cheers as Tjen’s returns forced Fernandez into hurried errors, her flat strokes skidding short.
The second set demanded more grit, Tjen snatching an early break for 2–1 with an inside-in forehand that clipped the line. Fernandez fired back, breaking twice to level at 5–5, her experience in tight spots fueling a surge that had the Indonesian serving to stay in it. Tjen held firm through deuce, forcing a tiebreak where she seized the first three points with aggressive returns, then converted her first match point on a down-the-line backhand that echoed off the stands.
Valentova silences Joint’s home roar
Moments earlier at John Cain Arena, Tereza Valentova turned local favorite No. 30 Maya Joint’s power against her in a 6–4, 6–4 takedown lasting 1 hour and 32 minutes. The Czech wildcard, marking her third Grand Slam main-draw win, absorbed Joint’s explosive forehands with steady baseline depth that redirected pace crosscourt. Joint’s one–two combinations of serve and inside-in shots met resistance as Valentova’s underspin backhands drew unforced errors, the Australian crowd’s initial fervor giving way to stunned quiet.
Valentova broke first in each set, using probing slices to disrupt Joint’s rhythm on the grippier surface. She saved break points with deep passes that kept the pressure on, stepping inside the baseline for winners when Joint’s balls sat up short. This upset eases the wildcard’s early-exit anxiety, her calm exchanges contrasting Joint’s mounting frustration under home expectations.
These victories propel Tjen toward a second-round test against either Karolina Pliskova or Sloane Stephens, former champions whose big serves will probe her adaptability. Valentova, too, carries fresh confidence into her next clash, her tactical tweaks proving that Melbourne’s moderate pace rewards patience over raw speed. For live updates, check the Australian Open Scores, Draws, and Order of play as the tournament’s undercurrents build.
