NEW YORK, Aug 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen scored an early upset at the US Open on Sunday, ousting Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in three sets to advance to the second round.

Tjen -- who is the first Indonesian to play in the singles main draw of a tennis Grand Slam since Angelique Widjaja at the 2004 US Open -- showed superb poise to prevail 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The 23-year-old Jakarta-born right-hander took control in the first set, breaking Kudermetova twice before serving out at 6-4.

While Kudermetova hit back to level in the second set, Tjen was soon back on the front foot in the decider.

She grabbed a break in the opening game, and preserved that advantage before confidently holding to love to clinch victory.

"It means a lot," Tjen said of her win. "I feel proud to be able to do this for my country.

"Hopefully me making appearance here will inspire more tennis players and believing they can be here too."

Tjen, ranked 149th in the world, will face Britain's Emma Raducanu in the second round.

The Indonesian said she had been inspired by watching Raducanu's fairytale US Open victory in 2021 while studying at Pepperdine University in California.

"When Emma won the tournament and having an incredible run here, I was actually in college, and I was injured at the time," Tjen said.

"Just seeing her doing it inspired me to be able to do it as well."