World No. 46 Janice Tjen delivered a stunning upset, defeating world No. 29 Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez in the Round of 32 at the Dubai Tennis Championship 2026 (WTA 1000). The thrilling encounter, held at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in the UAE on Monday, February 16, concluded with Tjen securing victory with a final score of 7(7)-6(5), 6-4.
This marks the second career meeting between Janice Tjen and Fernandez, with Tjen maintaining her perfect record against the higher-ranked opponent. Their previous clash at the Australian Open also saw Tjen emerge victorious with a score of 6-2, 7(7)-6(1). The talented player has truly capitalized on the wildcard entry she received, demonstrating significant progress in her Middle East campaign. After being halted in the second round (Round of 32) at the earlier Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) and Qatar Open (WTA 1000) tournaments, Tjen has now impressively advanced to the Round of 16 in the prestigious Dubai Tennis Championship.
Janice Tjen began the first set with an assertive display of power and precision. In the opening game, she left Fernandez without a single point, quickly establishing a 40:0 lead. Though Fernandez began to find her rhythm and offer resistance, even creating three break points in the second game, Janice tenaciously showcased her impressive game, rapidly building a commanding 3-0 advantage. However, Fernandez launched a spirited comeback, pushing Tjen to her limits and forcing her to concede a service game after facing two break points in the fifth game. This surge allowed Fernandez to level the score at 3-3 by the end of the sixth game. The intensity of their battle escalated, ultimately requiring a tiebreak, which Janice Tjen clinched 7(7)-6(5).
Entering the second set, Fernandez managed to win the first game after a tightly contested sequence of points: 0:15, 0:30, 15:30, 30:30, and 30:40. Undeterred, Janice responded emphatically, dominating the second game with a decisive 40:0 victory. A crucial moment arrived in the fifth game when Fernandez dropped her serve, allowing Janice to seize the lead at 3-2. Following this, Janice swiftly won her next service game 40:0, only for Fernandez to replicate the feat, bringing the score to a tense 4-3. Both competitors continued to engage in a fierce struggle, but it was Janice Tjen who ultimately closed out the set 6-4, securing a memorable triumph and her place in the next round of the Dubai Tennis Championship.
Summary
World No. 46 Janice Tjen achieved a stunning upset by defeating world No. 29 Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez in the Round of 32 at the Dubai Tennis Championship 2026. The thrilling encounter, held on Monday, February 16, concluded with Tjen securing victory with a final score of 7(7)-6(5), 6-4, advancing her to the Round of 16. This marks Tjen’s second career meeting and win against Fernandez, maintaining a perfect record against the higher-ranked opponent.
Tjen started the first set assertively, but Fernandez mounted a comeback, pushing the set to a tiebreak which Tjen ultimately clinched. In the second set, Tjen secured a crucial break of serve in the fifth game, taking the lead. She then closed out the set 6-4, securing a memorable triumph and her place in the next round of this prestigious WTA 1000 tournament.