Heo leads winners in PIC netfest

A much improved service game lifted CNMI top junior netter Ji Hoon Heo to a straight set win over Kirk Schuler in their title match in the men’s open singles division of the 9th Annual PIC Tennis Championships Sunday at the Pacific Islands Club hard courts.

“I think I made 90 percent of my serves. He [Schuler] had a hard time receiving my first serves. I also made a couple of good forehand returns,” said Heo shortly after scoring a 6-4, 6-0 win over Schuler.

Heo, who said his service improved a lot after competing off-island, faced Schuler for the first time, but the former has been hitting balls with the latter in the past months before the PIC netfest.

Heo’s victory foiled Schuler’s bid for back-to-back titles. Schuler, a former Drake University standout, won the men’s open singles division of the 2009 Coconut Classic Tennis Tournament, beating Jeff Race in a closely contested finals, 9-8 (7-4). Heo missed this year’s Coconut Classic, as he was off-island, competing in New Zealand.

Schuler faced Race, anew, in the semifinals Saturday and advanced to the title game after a 6-0, 6-3 triumph.

Heo gained the first finals ticket following a 6-0, 6-2 victory against former junior player Nicolas Son, who had to beat Woo Suk Chang, 6-1, 6-3, to notch a semis ticket.

The 17-year-old Heo stayed at PIC after his semis win to watch Schuler play Race in the other semis game.

“He’s good, but I think he is still adjusting to the hot weather here. He’s been here for less than a year and it’s only his second competition on Saipan,” said Heo, who used the PIC tournament to warm up for two events in Korea next month.

Heo and Schuler’s title game started at 2pm and lasted for more than an hour, exposing the two finalists to scorching heat. Besides the hot weather, Schuler was also a bit bothered by the wind, as on several occasions, his ball went to a different direction after he tossed it for serving.

Schuler then tried to bring the game to the net, but it was just not his day, as Heo found ways to counter the former’s attack, going for strong groundstrokes.

Joining Heo in the winner’s list were Dong Min Lee, Denis Karyakin, Thea Minor, Christian Miller, Carl Dela Cruz, Melody Johnson, Tammy Ackerman, and Eun Kyong Lee.

Dong Min won in the men’s 4.0 finals via forfeit over Bong Gamab. Lee advanced to the title game after beating Fernando Cajigan, 6-4, 6-1, while Gamab downed Lope Padilla, 1-6, 6-3, 6-6 (4-0 forfeit).

Karyakin , a PIC Clubmate, prevailed over Dong Ik Jang, 6-4, 7-5, in the men’s 3.0, while Minor topped Jodel Fernandez in the women’s open, 6-1, 6-1.

Miller settled a score with Jones, taking the boys’ 14-and-under title this time after a 6-2, 6-3 triumph. Jones beat Miller in the Coconut Classic.

Dela Cruz made it two in a row after clinching the boys’ 10-and-under title with a 6-0 win over Jun Myong, while Ackerman denied Emily Jones back-to-back titles in the girls’ 10-and-under, after winning in the finals, 6-4. Emily dominated last month’s Coconut Classic.

Returning Johnson defeated Neghar Rastguiy in the girls’ 14-and-under finals, 6-1, 6-3, while Eun Kyon ruled the women’s 4.0 after downing Lydia Tan, 6-3, 6-2.

Participants in the singles competition will be back at the PIC hardcourts this weekend for the doubles events.