By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
CAROL Young Suh Lee may have fallen short, losing to Linda Fruhvirtova in the final qualifying round of the Australian Open. However, her appearance alone made history: Lee became the first woman from the Pacific region to compete in the Australian Open, which concluded Thursday at Melbourne Park, Australia.
Lee carried more than her tennis bag — she carried the hopes of the Pacific Oceania region. As the first woman from the CNMI to compete in women’s singles at a Grand Slam, her journey through the 2026 Australian Open qualifying draw was remarkable.
“I felt the history I am making, and it gave me good energy and momentum on the court,” Lee said in an interview with Variety.
Ranked No. 209 in the world entering the tournament, Lee faced a grueling test of nerves and stamina. In her opening match, she rallied from a set down to defeat Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel in three sets, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4. She followed that with a strong win over Australia’s Elena Micic, 6–2, 6–2.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Lee said, reflecting on her first-ever win. “My goal was to qualify, so I worked on specific things back in Germany with my coach. I was happy, but I was craving more.”
That craving led her to a high-stakes final qualifying round against No. 20 seed Czech player Linda Fruhvirtova. Lee opened strongly, taking the first set 7–5 with an aggressive, tactical approach that kept the seasoned Czech on her heels.
As the match progressed, Fruhvirtova’s top-level experience began to show. “She increased her intensity, didn’t miss, and stayed closer to the baseline,” Lee noted. “I think if I had fought harder for my position and risked some shots, the outcome could have been different.”
Despite a 7–5, 2–6, 4–6 loss, Lee’s performance proved she is not just a participant on the world stage — she is a contender. “It doesn’t change anything,” she said about her 2026 outlook. “My goal is to reach the top 100 this year.”
As she prepares for the rest of the season, Lee carries one vital lesson from the Melbourne heat: mindset is everything.
“At this level, all players know how to hit forehands, backhands, and volleys,” she said. “The mindset plays a big part of the game as well as physical ability. I’ve learned to enjoy the ride and stay in the present moment.”
Lee’s historic run is just the beginning, and she is now ready to climb even higher on the world stage.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
