Strong contender in Pacific Games

Head coach Jeff Race believes that the CNMI National Tennis Team is a strong contender in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.

“This is by far the best tennis team that the CNMI has ever field in (in Pacific Games or Pacific Mini Games. We have the highest ranked player in the Pacific history, a junior player that’s ranked No. 114 in the world and a lot of very competitive players, ”said Race last Friday during the send-off ceremony for Team CNMI at Kanoa Resort.

The veteran coach is talking about Colin Sinclair, who is at No. 48 in the International Tennis Federation World rankings (No. 47 highest ranked achieved last month) and No. 485 in the Association of Tennis Professionals. The 24-year-old will be teaming up with Micronesian Games medalists Bobby Cruz, former CNMI junior player Colin Ramsey, and ITF Juniors participants Ken Song and Robbie Schorr in the men’s division.

“Colin is the favorite in the men’s singles. This team has a strong chance to win medals in Samoa, it’s just a matter of how many and what color,” said Race, who himself has represented the CNMI in regional competitions.

Sinclair is currently in the Netherlands, playing in the $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour Alkmaar. Last month, the former junior player saw action in pro circuit tournaments in Germany, Spain, and Czech Republic. He will meet his teammates in Samoa this Sunday morning in time for the opening ceremonies in the evening.

Though Race likes the CNMI’s medal chances in Samoa, he said the Commonwealth is not the team to team in the quadrennial meet.

“I would say we are in the mix. I don’t know the players coming for the other teams, but Samoa, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tahiti usually field strong teams,” said the former Pacific Oceania Davis Cup player and captain.

As for the women’s division, Papua New Guinea (bannered by pro Abigail Tere-Apisah) is the favored squad, but the CNMI can’t be taken lightly with Carol Lee and NCAA standout Isabel Heras leading the crew. Malika Miyawaki and Tania Tan complete the women’s squad, which has Micro Games veteran Lydia Tan as assistant coach.

Lee played in the Australian Open Juniors at the start of the year and has been touring the world to compete in ITF Juniors events. She completed a series of competitions in Italy and Belgium last month and just recently clinched the singles and doubles titles in the South Pacific Open Junior Championships 2019.

Heras, on the other hand, is coming of an outstanding rookie season in the NCAA Division II with the Dixie State University. She won the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors and also helped the Trailblazers bag the conference championship.

“Playing college tennis for Dixie State really helped me improve my confidence and game and I will definitely carry that momentum in Samoa. It’s really a great honor to be able to represent the CNMI again,” said Heras, who donned the Commonwealth’s colors in the ITF Juniors and in the yearly Pacific Oceania Junior Championships.

The tennis tournament in the Pacific Games in Samoa will be held from July 8 to 19 and will feature the men’s and women’s team events and the men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Incidentally, the last time the CNMI had a representative in the tennis event was during the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa with only Tim Quan competing, as Todd Montgomery got injured.

“We’ve never sent a lot of players in the past. Now, we are here, we are just building up for this strong one,” Race said.