By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE 13th edition of the UMDA-CNMI Junior Tennis Championships kicks off today at the PIC hardcourt and at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.
Day 1 of the three-day tournament will feature 13 games in the boys’ 9-and-under, 13-and-under and 18-and-under divisions and in the girls’ 13-and-under age group. Forty-three junior players are entered in this year’s UMDA netfest.
Set to play on the opening day in the boys’ 9-and-under are Jordan Butcher, Raj Ramnani, Steven Goodwin, Michael Grandinetti, Chris Cajigan, Aaron Lee, Luther Lizama, Tommy Choi and Michael Jones. All the opening games in the boys’ 9-and-under will be played at the PIC hardcourt.
Angelo Jones won last year’s 9-and-under, but he will now play in the 13-and-under.
Other players entered in the boys’ 9-and-under are Quintin and Colin Ramsey, and Dylan Ackerman.
Four matches are scheduled in the boys’ 13-and-under division.
Set to play on Day 1 in the boys’ 13-and-under division at AMP are Lucas and Nathan Nutting, Kevin Yang, Clay McCollough-Sterns, Jake Lee, Ryan Baron, Brian Mailman and Daniel Camacho. Joe Motto, Christina Miller and Rafael and Angelo Jones will start their bid for the 13-and-under crown tomorrow.
James Camacho topped last year’s 13-and-under, but he moves up to the boys’ 18-and-under division.
The two opening games in the girls’ 13-and-under division will also be played at AMP. Only four players are entered in the girls’ 13-and-under. They are sisters Thea and Theecel Minor, Jessica Soll and Michael Grandinetti. Thea is the defending champion.
Only two games will be played on Day 1 in the boys’ 18-and-under. Set to play on the opening day are Nicolas Son, Russel Buenaventura, Ho Suk and Woo Suk Chang. Defending champion Ji Hoon Heo will play tomorrow along with James Camacho and Tinian’s Benjie Decena. Day 1 of the boys’ 18-and-under division matches are set for AMP.
Only two players are entered in the girls’ 18-and-under division. Mayuko Arriola and Lila Mailman will square off for the title on Sunday at 2 p.m. at AMP.
Action in the girls’ 9-and-under division will start tomorrow with Neghar Rastguiy, Gabrielle Race, Emily Jones, Liza Atalig and Isabel Heras battling for the championship.