YUTAKA Kadokura and Si Woo Lee clinched the boys doubles or BD 12 title of the 2021 TSL CNMI Junior Tennis Tournament after outlasting Ryan Choi and Emmon Tang 7-5, 6-4 Saturday at American Memorial Park.
It was a tough battle as both teams filled both sets with nonstop action.
For Kadokura and Lee, their teamwork was impeccable as they covered each other’s backs. The duo played aggressively, unleashing each volley while hanging back when defense was needed to keep the possession alive.
Although Choi and Tang had highlights of their own, even taking the lead at one point, Kadokura and Lee held their ground long enough to grasp a tie-breaking victory in first set, 7-5.
In the second set, Kadokura and Lee continued to thrive with successive returns and were pretty much in control.
Choi tried to take matters into his own hands with a handful of powerful smashes but still fell short as Kadokura and Lee triumphed 6-4 to bag the second set and the BD 12 championship.
BD 14
Kadokura added another title to his collection as he also paired with June Yu to take the BD 14 trophy.
The team played two matches: first defeating Henry Choi and Taher Shakir 6-3, 6-0 before surviving a tight match against Simon Tang and Nason Wessel 7-5, 6-4 to gather a total of four points and take first place.
Tang and Wessel were in second place with two points while Choi and Shakir were third with zero points.
BD 18
In the BD 18 category, Sam Ryu and Jimin Woo dominated Andy Kim and David Min Soo Kwon 6-2, 7-6 to win the championship.
GD
As for the girls doubles or GD 12 category, Hannah Chae and Jeong Bin Park snagged the title with an impressive victory over Stella Choi and Eliza Culp 6-1, 6-0.
In the GD 14 category, Irin Chung and Savita Sikkel went to the limit as they edged Anna Kwon and Hoo Wang 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 to earn the title.
Finally, in the GD 18 category, Serin Chung and Hye Jin Elliot performed flawlessly against Sei Yul Hong and Yebin Shin to bring home the title, 6-0, 6-0.
Hye Jin Elliot connects the return during a match at an American Memorial Park tennis court. Elliot and Serin Chung won the girls doubles 18 title of the 2021 TSL CNMI Junior Tennis Tournament which concluded Sunday.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
Yutaka Kadokura gets ready for a serve during a 2021 TSL CNMI Junior Tennis Tournament match at an American Memorial Park tennis court.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
