Top junior netters smash through Crowne Plaza tourney

Top junior netters advanced to the semis of the 2024 Crowne Plaza CNMI Junior Championship after their matches last weekend at the American Memorial Park and Crowne Plaza tennis courts.

No. 1 David Kwon will take on Nason Wessel and Si Woo Lee and No. 2 June Yu will duke it out in the boys 18 division for the finals spot this Sunday.

Kiwoon Lee and Kwon received a bye and didn’t challenge anyone, while Wessel defeated Simon Tang in the quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-1, while Lee bested Henry Choi, 6-4, 7-6(4), and Yu beat Kiwon Lee, 6-0, 6-1.

In the girls 18 division, No. 1 Serin Chung will challenge her sister, No. 4 Irin; and No. 2 Anne Lee will go up against Hoo Wang.

Serin had a bye, while Irin went up against Stella Choi and won, 6-1, 6-2; Wang upset No. 3 Hannah Chae, 6-2, 6-3; and Lee overwhelmed Anna Kwon, 6-3, 6-0.

Only three netters are in the boys 14, with only one match last Saturday. Ian Chae took down Jebro Leon, 5-1. The matches between Matthew Hwang and Leon will take place this Saturday, and Chae will take on Hwang this Sunday.

In the girls 14, there are only four participants. Last Saturday, Jenna Pascual defeated Amy Park in three tough sets, 6-4, 5-7, 10-7. Then, Emma Lang took on Vivian Chung and won, 7-5, 6-2. This Saturday, it’s Lang vs. Pascual, and Park vs. Chung. On Sunday, it’s Pascual vs. Chung, and Lang vs. Park.

In the boys 12 semis this Saturday, No. 1 Cody Park will take on Seung Woo Lee; Noah Hawley will face Cooper Koning-Fong; No. 3 Daniel Kang will go up against No. 2 Michael Jeon; No. 4 Matt Zhu will await the winner; and this Sunday, Kijoon Park awaits the winner as well, and Jackson Koning-Fong will challenge Jason Choi.

Only three girls are in the girls 12 division, with Scarlett Loken defeating Eva Shin last Sunday. This Saturday, Selina Chi will go against Eva Shin, and Chi will face Loken this Sunday.

The girls 14, 18, and boys 12 and 14, and co-ed U10 doubles divisions will also continue with their semis/finals this weekend.

In the girls 14, Chi and Lang will take on Stella and Vivian this Saturday, and Amy and Pascual will face Stella and Vivian. In the boys 12, Kang and Seung Woo will take on Jeon and Zhu this Saturday, while Cody and Kijoon and Cooper and Jackson will await the winners on Sunday.

As for the girls 18, Irin and Serin will face Lina Tsukagoshi and Wang and Chae and Anna will go up against Tsukagoshi and Wang. Then on Sunday, Irin and Serin will challenge Chae and Anna. In the boys 18, Wessel and Yu will face David and Tang this Saturday, and Wessel and Yu, will go up against Henry and Si Woo.

In the U10 co-ed division this Saturday, it’s Fiona Yu vs. Evan Zhang, and Lynore He vs. Harper Loken. Then on Sunday, He will take on Fiona.

The 2024 Crowne Plaza CNMI Junior Championship is organized by the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association.