By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
SAIPAN-BORN Carol Young Suh Lee continues to ride her momentum in the world of tennis, turning heads at the W100 Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates with back-to-back wins in the women’s singles and doubles events, further cementing her status as one of the most dangerous rising talents on the ITF circuit.
On Wednesday, Lee delivered a stunning 6-4, 6-1 victory over Alexandra Shubladze of Russia to advance to the quarterfinals. The match highlighted Lee’s ability to capitalize on her opponent’s errors while maintaining constant pressure.
The opening set was a competitive battle that tested Lee’s resilience. Shubladze had several break point opportunities, but Lee remained clinical, saving the majority of them and maintaining enough aggression to take the first set, 6-4. After securing the opening set, Lee took full control, while Shubladze struggled with unforced errors. Lee’s relentless return game allowed Shubladze to claim only one game in the second set, which Lee closed out 6-1.
Earlier in the tournament, Lee dismantled another Russian player, Polina Iatcenko, with a 6-2, 6-1 victory in her opening singles match on Monday.
On Thursday, Lee was scheduled to face Russia’s Alina Korneeva, who defeated her in the semifinals of the W75 Manama tournament. Results were not available as of press time.
Lee is also making waves in doubles. She teamed up with former singles opponent Polina Iatcenko, and the duo displayed remarkable chemistry on Wednesday, coming back from a set down to defeat Rutuja Bhosale of India and Wushuang Zheng of China in a thrilling match tiebreak, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6, to advance to the semifinals.
During their opening doubles match on Tuesday, Lee and Iatcenko defeated the Russian pair of Ekaterina Maklakova and Valeria Savinykh, 6-4, 6-2. Lee and Iatcenko are scheduled to face Isabelle Haverlag of the Netherlands and Elena Pridankina of Russia in the semifinals Thursday. Results were not available as of press time.
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.
