Indonesia’s Janice Tjen also skipping Asian Games

Janice Tjen, of Indonesia, returns the ball to Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

MANILA, Philippines–Indonesian tennis star Janice Tjen is the latest top Asian player forced to skip the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Tjen, the second-best Southeast Asian player after Filipino sensation Alex Eala, announced her decision to withdraw from the Asiad hosted by Japan on Friday.

“After a lot of consideration, I’ve had to make the difficult decision that I won’t be able to compete at the Asian Games this year, which take place at the same time as the mandatory WTA 1000 event in Beijing,” Tjen posted on Instagram.

READ: Alex Eala, Francis Alcantara lead PH tennis team at Asian Games

The World No. 36 Tjen said the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) did not grant her “an exemption to compete at the Asian Games.”

“This was not an easy decision for me. I always enjoy representing Indonesia and playing for the national team whenever I can. I’m incredibly proud of the opportunities I’ve had to represent Indonesia, including winning medals at the Asian Games and SEA Games, and helping Indonesia gain promotion in the Billie Jean King Cup this year,” said Tjen, who won bronze in women’s doubles tennis in the previous Asiad in Hangzhou three years ago.

Without an exemption, a player skipping a mandatory WTA 1000 event, like the China Open, faces a hefty financial and ranking penalty.

The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) has also applied for an exemption on behalf of Eala, who will headline the country’s gold medal bid in the Asian Games. The WTA, however, has yet to hand down its final ruling on Eala’s petition.

READ: Alex Eala on Asian Games: ‘I love being with PH team’

Aside from Tjen, reigning Olympic and Asian champion Zheng Qinwen of China, and World No. 13 Naomi Osaka, who represents Japan in international play, have also opted to see action in the China Open instead of the Asian Games.

China’s Wang Xinyu (World No. 43), Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee (World No. 76) and Mananchaya Sawangkaew (World No. 94) are also out of the Asian Games.

The withdrawals of notable players have installed Eala as the clear favorite to win the gold. Eala bagged the women’s singles bronze in the Hangzhou Games after losing a tough semifinal match against Zheng. Zheng, the former world number four who is on a career resurgence after a long recovery from an elbow injury, reached this year’s US Open quarterfinal despite coming into the tournament as a qualifier.

Eala and Tjen–sometimes doubles partners–are scheduled to meet in an exhibition on December 8 at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.