6 clinch junior titles in DFS tennis

Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association wrapped up the juniors singles competitions in the 2009 DFS Micronesian Tennis Championships with six young netters crowned champions yesterday at the Pacific Islands Club tennis courts.

Ruling their respective divisions were Woo Suk Chang and Thea Minor in the 18-and-under division, Christian Miller and Negahr Rastguiy in the 13-and-under age group, and Emily Jones and Carl Dela Cruz in the 10-and-under category.

Chang foiled Rafael Jones’ bid for a first boys’ 18-and-under title after the former won in the finals in straight sets. Chang prevailed in the first set, 6-4, and had a tougher time in the second set before pulling off a 7-5 victory.

Minor also met a stiff challenge from Lila Mailman in the first set of their title game in the girls’ 18-and-under division before the former eked out a 7-6 triumph. The second set was an easier task for Minor, who cruised to a 6-1 victory to stun her top seeded foe.

Miller regained the boys’ 13-and-under title he lost to Rafael Jones last year after beating Jake Lee in the finals, 6-2, 7-6.

The girls’ 14-and-under division had a new champion in 10-year-old Ratsguiy, who topped Mikayla Lopez in three sets. Rastguiy, who beat deposed champion Ilia Corella in the semis, 6-3, 6-4, took the opening set in the finals, 6-2, but lost the second set in a similar score. The newly crowned champion finally took the championship after a 6-1 victory in the deciding third set.

In the boys’ 10-and-under division, Dela Cruz added the DFS trophy to his growing collection after beating Colin Ramsey in the finals, 6-4. Prior to the DFS tournament, Dela Cruz won the past two junior tournaments NMITA hosted.

Emily Jones dethroned Tammy Ackerman after nailing a 6-4 victory in the finals of the girls’ 10-and-under division.

Besides the junior singles competitions, NMITA also had adults doubles contests in the first weekend of the DFS tournament.

In the men’s open doubles finals, Jeff Race and Ji Hoon Heo outlasted Peter Loyola and Kirk Schuler in three sets, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Miller and Jones played in the men’s 3.0 doubles and won in the finals against the duo of Tony Reyes and Mario Buensuceso, 6-1, 6-0.

Matty Buenaventura and Ronnie Lacbayo prevailed over Cleofe Santos and Roy Pangelinan in the mixed 4.0 doubles finals, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. Jim and Mihoko Tuttle ruled the mixed 3.0 division after thwarting Sung Hoon Ham and Jodel Fernandez, 6-2, 6-1. In the mixed open doubles, Loyola and Lydia Tan won in the finals via walkover against the duo of Race and Mailman, who could not play due to a hurting knee.

Two other doubles finals were played yesterday, but results were unavailable at press time. Theecel Minor and Melody Johnson collided with the duo of Fish Wang and Lihua Lin (women’s doubles 3.0); and Richard Asuncion and Lacbayo dueled the tandem of Chuck Sayon and Hee Seung Kim (men’s doubles 4.0).