By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN-BORN Carol Young Suh Lee has made history for the CNMI by competing in the 2026 Australian Open qualifying rounds. But she didn’t stop there — Lee dismantled higher-ranked opponents and hometown favorites alike, moving within one win of her first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance at Melbourne Park last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Lee (WTA No. 209) began her campaign with a grueling test against Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel (WTA No. 125). In a match that lasted over two hours, Lee’s mental fortitude carried her to a 2-1 victory.
Vandewinkel dominated the first set, building a 3-1 lead and ultimately winning 6-3. After dropping the opening set, Lee steadily broke down her opponent’s rhythm, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the second set. Despite Vandewinkel’s fightback, Lee stayed composed and claimed the set 6-3.
The third set was where Lee shined. Despite several lost-serve moments on both sides, she executed a late-game comeback, winning three consecutive games to seal the match 6-4 — marking her first Australian Open win.
In her next match, Lee faced Australia’s Elena Micic and maintained her momentum. Her serve kept Micic on the defensive, allowing Lee to dictate play from the baseline. She took the first set 6-2 and powered through the second set by the same score, securing her second consecutive victory at a Grand Slam qualifying event.
Lee now advances to the final round of qualifying, where she is scheduled to face No. 20 seed Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic. A win would earn her a spot in the 128-player main draw and make her the first player from the Pacific to compete at this level in the modern era.
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.
