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Lee scares Aussie in Junior Fed Cup
Carol Lee, seen here competing in a local tournament early this year, forced world No. 46 Baijing Lin of Australia to a three-set game in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying last Monday in India. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The CNMI’s Carol Lee forced her Australian foe to a three-set game in the 2016 Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying last Monday in India.
Lee, who played in the second singles match for Pacific Oceania, dueled Australia’s Baijing Lin and stunned the world No. 46-ranked player in the opening set, 6-2. In the second set, Lee, whose highest ITF Juniors ranking is at No. 747, engaged Lin in a back-and-forth match before the latter pulled off a 7-5 victory to send the game in the deciding third set. The Australian went on to complete the come-from-behind win after outlasting Lee in the final set, 6-1.
Lin’s triumph also secured the early win for Australia in its first match in the round-robin play in Group B of the qualifier. Jessica Zaviacic handed the Land Down Under its first victory after sweeping Fiji’s Vienna Kumar in the opening singles match, 6-4, 6-0. Australia capped the 3-0 shutout win against Pacific Oceania after Zaviacic teamed up with Susan Staines Kaitlin in defeating Lee and Tahiti’s Naia Guitton, 6-1, 6-2.
Despite the loss, Lee’s performance against Australia was lauded by Oceania Tennis Federation.
“Great results by Carol Lee on Day 1—to go to 3 sets with ITF Juniors world No. 46 from Australia,” OTF stated in its Facebook page.
Lee, in an earlier message to Saipan Tribune, said she is very fortunate to have the opportunity to compete in the Junior Fed Cup.
“I am so excited to challenge players from other countries. There are a lot of players older than me and they are very good players. I am a little nervous, but I would like to see how I would fare with their level of play. I will do my best, win or lose,” the 14-year-old Lee said.
Besides the Australian junior players, Lee and company will also face the representatives of Thailand and Hong Kong. Lee’s squad, which is captained by Vanuatu’s Andrew Mailtorok, was scheduled to duel Thailand yesterday, while today, Pacific Oceania will collide against Hong Kong. The Top 2 teams in Group B and three other pools will advance to the knockout stage with the Top 4 squads qualifying to the finals, which will be held in Hungary from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2.
