Carol Lee
SAIPAN’S national women’s tennis representative, Carol Lee, has etched a brilliant moment in her nation’s sporting history by achieving a remarkable comeback victory in the women’s singles final at the International Tennis Federation W50 tournament held in Lopota, Georgia.
In the thrilling final match on May 10, Carol faced off against the host country’s top player and the winner of the first Lopota tournament, Ekaterine Gorgodze. After narrowly losing the first set in a tiebreaker, Carol displayed unwavering resilience. She fought back fiercely in the second set, also clinching it in a tiebreaker to level the score.
The decisive third set saw Carol demonstrate incredible focus and mental fortitude against Gorgodze, who had the enthusiastic support of her home crowd. Maintaining her composure, Carol calmly managed the game, ultimately securing a 6-4 victory after a grueling battle lasting three hours and nineteen minutes. This victory was the culmination of an impressive run throughout the two Lopota tournaments, where Carol won 13 matches out of 14, missing victory on only one day. This remarkable feat underscores her exceptional stamina, concentration, and unwavering mental strength in the face of adversity. Notably, in the first W50 Lopota tournament, she also reached the quarterfinals.
Carol’s upward trajectory in recent performances has been consistent. In April, she reached the semifinals at both the W35 Sharm ElSheikh and W15 Sharm ElSheikh tournaments. Prior to that, she triumphed at the W15 Monastir tournament in March, reached the semifinals at the W15 Sharm ElSheikh in February, and was a finalist at the W15 Sharm ElSheikh in January.
Currently ranked 557th in the WTA rankings, Carol’s recent victory at the W50 tournament, combined with her previous semifinal results, is projected to elevate her ranking to around 430th. The outstanding performance of Carol Lee signals a bright future for Saipan’s tennis, and her achievements are generating significant excitement among fans.
Adding to her impressive accomplishments, Carol Young Suh Lee, representing the Northern Mariana Islands, played a pivotal role in its historic promotion from Group III to Group II in the Billie Jean King Cup in November 2024. As the team’s ace, Carol Young Suh Lee demonstrated extraordinary skill in both singles and doubles, remarkably not dropping a single game and playing a decisive role in her team’s victories. She secured crucial wins against Thailand and Myanmar in the semifinals, and continued her dominant performance throughout the round-robin matches. Thanks to her stellar performances, the Northern Mariana Islands achieved their best-ever result in the Billie Jean King Cup, securing a well-deserved promotion to Group II. Carol Lee’s exceptional talent continues to illuminate the path for Saipan’s tennis future, inspiring fans and garnering significant anticipation for her upcoming endeavors.
Born on Saipan, Carol Young Suh Lee’s journey in tennis began at the age of five, when she eagerly asked her father, Dongmin Lee, to teach her the sport. Her father started coaching her at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. Her development then took her through the now-closed ITF Training Centre in Fiji and culminated in a full scholarship to Georgia Tech, from which she graduated before turning professional. She is currently a member of the Korea Expressway Corporation team in South Korea.
