Leylah Fernandez’s Australian Open Opener Turns Tense as Janice Tjen Takes First Set and Match Is Suspended

Leylah Fernandez’s first-round match at the Australian Open has taken an unexpected turn, with underdog Janice Tjen grabbing the opening set and the contest later being listed as suspended during the second set. For Fernandez, the stoppage arrives at a delicate moment: as the seeded favorite, she entered the tournament needing an early win to stabilize momentum after a choppy start to her 2026 hard-court swing.

The pause also injects uncertainty into the bracket. When a match stops midstream, the restart can feel like a separate event entirely, shifting pressure, rhythm, and tactical choices for both players.

Leylah Fernandez vs Janice Tjen: What We Know So Far

Fernandez, the No. 22 seed, faced Tjen in the Round of 128 on an outside court in Melbourne. Tjen struck first, taking the opening set 6–2. The match then moved into the second set before play was halted, with the official match status showing it as suspended at the time of writing.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the matchup as it has unfolded:

Fernandez’s early stat line points to a rocky opening stretch, including multiple double faults and missed chances on break points. In a Grand Slam first round, those small swings can become big ones fast.

Why the Suspension Matters for Leylah Fernandez

Suspensions can happen for several reasons, including weather interruptions, court conditions, lighting issues, or scheduling complications. What matters competitively is the reset:

• Rhythm is disrupted: A player who has found timing on return or serve may lose that edge.

• Momentum can flip: The player trailing sometimes benefits from a break to regroup; the leader sometimes benefits from stopping the opponent’s surge.

• Coaching and adjustment windows expand: Even without on-court coaching during play, breaks allow teams to refine plans before the restart.

For Leylah Fernandez, the urgency is clear. When you drop the first set as a seed, the margin for error narrows, and the longer the match stretches, the more it invites nerves, fatigue, and tactical drift.

What This Match Says About Fernandez’s 2026 Hard-Court Start

Fernandez arrived in Melbourne with plenty of expectations, but her early-2026 results have suggested she’s still searching for a clean, repeatable baseline level on hard courts. She has had recent losses earlier this month in tune-up events, which made a steady first round at the Australian Open especially important.

That context helps explain why this opener has drawn attention. Fernandez’s best tennis thrives on speed, counterpunching, and quick transitions from defense to offense. When her first serve percentage dips or double faults creep in, it becomes harder to control patterns and harder to dictate with her forehand.

Against a lower-ranked opponent playing freely, the match can quickly become a test of patience as much as power.

How Janice Tjen Has Made It Uncomfortable

Tjen’s opening-set scoreline tells a story: she started fast, took risks early, and forced Fernandez to defend more than she likely wanted in the first 30 minutes. In matches like this, the underdog’s formula is usually simple:

• Get early returns in play

• Make the favorite hit extra balls

• Step in on second serves

• Protect service games with first-strike intent

Winning the first set 6–2 is the clearest possible signal that Tjen has been able to execute that plan, at least for one set. Whether she can sustain it after a stoppage is the key question.

Restart Scenarios: What to Watch When Play Resumes

When the match restarts, three things will likely decide whether Leylah Fernandez can turn it around:

1. First-serve discipline
   Fernandez doesn’t need aces; she needs reliable placement to start points on her terms and avoid pressure on second serves.

2. Return depth on Tjen’s first ball
   If Fernandez can pin returns deep and neutralize the next shot, she can force longer rallies where her speed and anticipation become assets.

3. Emotional control in the first two games back
   The restart often produces a brief surge from one player. Fernandez’s job is to keep those first moments simple: high-percentage targets, clear patterns, minimal risk.

Match Time Reference for Fans Following Globally

Because the match began in the early hours (UTC), it landed on different calendar days depending on location:

• US/Canada (ET): Monday evening, January 19, 2026

• UK (GMT): Shortly after midnight, Tuesday, January 20, 2026

• Melbourne (AEDT): Late morning, Tuesday, January 20, 2026

What’s Next for Leylah Fernandez

Until the suspension is lifted and play completes, this remains a developing situation. But the stakes are already clear: if Leylah Fernandez can steady her serve, sharpen her return patterns, and treat the restart like a fresh match, she still has a path through. If not, the first round could deliver one of the tournament’s early surprises.

Either way, the interruption has transformed a routine opener into a pressure test—one Fernandez will have to solve in real time.