McCartney Kessler Dominates Janice Tjen at Charleston Open

The American player's impressive performance raises hopes for a deep run at the clay court tournament.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:23pm

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In a lopsided second-round match at the 2026 Charleston Open, American player McCartney Kessler overwhelmed 12th-seeded Janice Tjen of Indonesia, winning the first set 6-2 and the second set 6-1. Kessler, currently ranked 53rd in the world, played at an exceptionally high level, hitting powerful shots and moving around the court with ease. The victory puts Kessler in the third round, where she will face the winner of the Ashlyn Krueger and Peyton Sterns match.

Why it matters

Kessler's dominant performance against a seeded opponent on clay, a surface she was not expected to excel on, suggests she may be peaking at the right time and could make a deep run at the Charleston Open. A strong showing here could help Kessler equal her career-high ranking of 30th in the world.

The details

In the first set, Kessler was nearly flawless, hitting winners from all over the court and dictating the tempo of the match. Even her defensive shots landed as winners. Tjen, the 12th seed, was overwhelmed and could not find a way to disrupt Kessler's rhythm. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Kessler cruising to a 6-1 victory, dropping only one game.

  • The match took place in the second round of the 2026 Charleston Open on April 1, 2026.

The players

McCartney Kessler

A 26-year-old American tennis player currently ranked 53rd in the world. She has won two of her three career titles in 2025 and is looking to make a deep run at the Charleston Open.

Janice Tjen

A 24-year-old Indonesian tennis player who was seeded 12th at the Charleston Open. She was overwhelmed by Kessler's dominant performance in the second-round match.

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What they’re saying

“McCartney Kessler played at an incredibly high level today. She was hitting winners from everywhere on the court and I couldn't find a way to disrupt her rhythm.”

— Janice Tjen, Player

What’s next

Kessler will next face the winner of the Ashlyn Krueger and Peyton Sterns match in the third round. If she continues to play as well as she did against Tjen, she will be the favorite to advance.

The takeaway

Kessler's dominant performance against a seeded opponent on clay suggests she may be peaking at the right time and could make a deep run at the Charleston Open. A strong showing here could help her equal her career-high ranking of 30th in the world.