Chung sisters dominate women’s field

Irin and Serin Chung duplicated their win in the girls 18 doubles by winning the women’s doubles in the 12th TanHoldings Tennis Classic last weekend at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan and American Memorial Park tennis courts

The Chung sisters went 2-0 in women’s open play. They first beat Melody Johnson and Mikayla Lopez, 5-7, 6-2, 10-1, before capping it off with a 6-2, 4-6, 10-7 win over Anne Lee and Amelie Terlaje.

The sisters then figured in the finals of the women’s open with Irin taking the tiara, 6-3, 4-6, 10-7.

The Chung sisters’ final preempted the much-anticipated showdown between Anne Lee and Hoo Wang.

The top junior girls’ netters figured in a heated girls 18 finals a week prior. However, both were ousted in the semis of the women’s open with Lee dropping a 1-6, 3-6 loss to Irin and Wang exiting following a 6-2, 1-6, 7-10 defeat in the hands of Serin.

Irin said playing the women’s open finals against her sister was a dream come true.

“It felt exciting knowing it’s my sister. It made me feel more comfortable and I wasn’t nervous at all. I really enjoyed playing against my sister…I feel like we both weren’t able to play our best because I know we have played so much better before, but it was a close match and I hope to compete against her again,” said the 15-year-old Saipan International School student.

She added going all the way in the women’s open more than made up for her lackluster showing in the girls 16.

“I was upset I didn’t do so well in the juniors but I’m happy I was able to do better in the women’s division,” said Irin who dedicated her championship to their parents, Rie Nakai and J.B. Chung, as well as Serin.

For her part, Serin said playing the women’s open finals opposite Irin was both challenging and fun.

“I felt a lot more nervous playing her in the finals than when I played her for third place in the junior division. I think it was nice since we usually don’t play against each other in tournaments. It really feld good since it has been a while since my sister and I played doubles together in a tournament. I think the last time we played was like in the girls 12,” she said.

In the women’s doubles 3.0, Min Han and Jing Zhao triumphed over Mae Kim and Mei Rengiil in the finals 7-5, 6-2, while Soung Mi Yang blanked Wei Tang, 6-0, 6-0, for the women’s 2.0 championship.

Race wins first men’s 60

CNMI Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Race, meanwhile, reached a milestone in the tourney. This, after winning his first men’s 60 championship, which now gives him around 107 career titles.

“Experience counts for a lot. I’ve played in hundreds of tournament matches. So, I don’t really get very nervous and I know what to do during tense situations,” he said.

Race dominated the division as he nearly swept Brian K. Wessel in the finals, 6-1, 6-0. Before that the many-time CNMI national tennis coach easily beat John Bradley, 6-0, 6-1.

He also took the mixed doubles 50 championship with Lydia Tan after the pair overwhelmed Sally Lee and David Lai (6-1, 6-1) and Eun Kyoung Lee and Dong Min Lee (6-0, 6-1).

In the mixed doubles open, David Kwon and Hoo Wang took the championship with successive wins over Lina Tsukagoshi and Siwoo Lee (6-3, 6-2) and Hannah Chae and June Yu (6-3, 6-1).

J.R. A. Jacinto and Mae Kim then topped the mixed doubles 3.0 after drubbing Mihoko Suzuki and Jim Tuttle, 6-4, 6-2, while David and Annie Lai won the mixed doubles 4.0 via walkover against Yuko Kumada and Reo Ariola.

In the women’s doubles 4.0, Annie Lai and Lydia Tan outlasted Yuko Kumada and Harumi Suzuki, 4-6, 7-5, 10-7, in the finals.