Linette ends Tjen’s Chennai reign to win first title since 2024
Third seed Magda Linette beat top seed and defending champion Janice Tjen 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in Monday’s Chennai Open final, played a day late because of rain and air pollution. The 34-year-old Pole came from a set down for the third match in a row and saved 11 of the 13 break points she faced to win her fourth career title.
Janice TJEN INA vs Magda LINETTE, Chennai 2026 | © Sukumar Sukumar/Psnewz
Magda Linette came from a set down for the third match in a row to end Janice Tjen‘s unbeaten run in Chennai. The Polish third seed beat the Indonesian top seed and defending champion 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in 2 hours 43 minutes on Monday to win the Chennai Open. The final had been pushed back by a day because of rain and severe air pollution.
It is the fourth title of Linette’s career and her first since Prague in 2024, where she beat compatriot Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-1 in the final. It is also her first title of the season. The 34-year-old now has a record of four wins and five defeats in finals.
How Linette won the Chennai final
The deciding set turned in two games. Linette broke for 2-1, but Tjen broke back for 3-3 in a game in which she needed five break points. Linette broke again straight away for 4-3, then served out the match to love.
Tjen had taken the opening set with the only break of it. Linette saved the first five break points she faced, but the Indonesian converted at 5-5 and served out the set.
Linette dominated the second set, breaking twice to take it 6-1. Over the match, she saved 11 of the 13 break points she faced. Tjen made five double faults, to one for Linette.
Linette’s long week in Chennai
Linette spent more than 12 and a half hours on court across her five matches. Her opening win over qualifier Aliona Falei, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2, lasted 3 hours 33 minutes, the longest WTA main-draw match of the season.
She then beat Moyuka Uchijima 7-6 (5), 6-0. In the quarter-finals, she came from a set down to beat Mai Hontama 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. She did it again in the semi-finals against seventh seed Anastasia Zakharova, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Tjen, 24, had won all nine of her previous matches in Chennai. Last year, on her first visit, she beat Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-3 in the final for her first tour title. She is still without a title this season, and her record in finals now stands at one win and two defeats.
Linette’s path to the title
First round: d. Aliona Falei (Q) 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2
Second round: d. Moyuka Uchijima 7-6 (5), 6-0
Quarter-final: d. Mai Hontama 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Semi-final: d. Anastasia Zakharova (7) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Final: d. Janice Tjen (1) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
Tjen’s path to the final
First round: d. Katherine Hui (WC) 6-1, 6-2
Second round: d. Joanna Garland 7-6 (1), 6-1
Quarter-final: d. Polina Kudermetova (6) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Semi-final: d. Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-4
Final: lost to Magda Linette (3) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
