Come-backing Lopez, Ackerman win women’s open doubles

Tammy Ackerman, left, and Mikayla Lopez smile during a pose shot after winning the women’s open doubles of the Bridge Capital Tennis Classic yesterday at the American Memorial Park. (MARK RABAGO)

The past of CNMI tennis met its future with steely experience trumping over youthful exuberance after Mikayla Lopez and Tammy Ackerman beat Hyejin Elliot and Serin Chung in the finals of the women’s open doubles of the Bridge Capital Tennis Classic yesterday at the American Memorial Park.

It can be argued that Lopez and Ackerman were the Elliot and Chung of their time when they dominated the junior rankings of CNMI tennis years ago before more grown-up things like college and work took over their lives.

With some gentle persuasion from national coach Jeff Race, Lopez, who now works at the Seventh Day Clinic; and Ackerman, who works with Tano Group, came out of semi-retirement to compete in this weekend’s tennis tournament.

Ed Javier, left, and Ronnie Lacbayo beat Nasson Wessel and Henry Choi to advance to the finals of the men’s doubles 4.0 of the Bridge Capital Tennis Classic at the American Memorial Park. (MARK RABAGO)

It was just like riding the bicycle again for Lopez and Ackerman as the No. 2 seeds went out and beat the No. 1 seeds Elliot and Chung in a score of 7-6 (6-4), 2-6, 10-4.

“We didn’t know they’re the Top 2 junior singles players. We’ve never seen them play,” admitted Lopez immediately after the match.

Both haven’t played for years, with Lopez saying she hasn’t picked up a racket in four years and Ackerman narrowing down her break from the sport between two to four years.

“We pretty much practiced only the Friday of the first day of the tournament,” said Lopez.

Both attributed the win over Elliot and Chung to experience.

“We’re out of practice but I think our experience factored in our winning,” said Lopez.

Lopez and Ackerman see their victorious comeback as a first step to returning to the sport they loved growing up. “We will see…” both said almost in unison.

The women’s doubles champions advanced to the finals with a 2-0, retired win over Marivic Dunlop and Elizabeth Culp. Elliot and Chung stormed to the championship round with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Michelle Park and Hoo Wang.

In the men’s doubles, top seeds Jimin Woo and Sam Ryu advanced the finals following a 6-1, 7-5 win over Isaac Heo and Sam Ryu. Their opponent in the finals will be Mini Games national team members Colin Ramsey and Bobby Cruz after the No. 2 seeds fashioned out a 7-6 (6), 6-0 victory over Andy Kim and David Kwon.

Top seeds Ed Javier and Ronnie Lacbayo also made it to the championship round in the men’s 4.0 doubles following a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nasson Wessel and Henry Choi. Their opponent will be the Kadokura brothers, Yutaka and Wataru, after they won over Cody, Race and Gary Ramsey, 6-3, 6-1.

In the men’s over 40, Martin Jambor and Tomas Abel beat Jorge Olanda and Jorge Poquiz, 6-1, 6-2, while Javier and Lacbayo played in their age group this time and won over the two Jorges, 6-4, 6-0.

The Bridge Capital Tennis Classic is organized by the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association. Results of the singles and finals of the other doubles matches will be reported in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.