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Miller reaches finals in Fiji
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Posted on Aug 20 2008
CNMI Junior Tennis Team member Christian Miller made it into the finals of the junior boys division of the 2008 Oceania Plate tennis tournament at the Robin Mitchell Regional Tennis Centre Tuesday in Lautoka, Fiji.
Miller advanced to the finals against Devin Khatri of Fiji after winning the all-CNMI semis duel with teammate Rafael Jones, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
But Miller failed to play in the finals, as he and other members of the CNMI squad had to leave Fiji early Wednesday morning to catch a return flight to Saipan.
Miller settled for a runner-up finish, while Jones finished fourth after losing also via walkover to Papua New Guinea’s Robin Morove in the consolation match.
The 12-year-old Miller had a perfect record in the elimination round in the Oceania Plate. He swept his Day 1 and 2 assignments and completed a clean 5-0 record in Pool A after beating Xyril Posala of Samoa, 6-3, 6-1, Monday.
Miller claimed the No. 1 spot in Pool A, setting up a semis meeting with Jones, who was ranked second in Pool B with a 4-1 record.
Jones’ lone loss in the pool was against Khatri. Jones took the opening set, 6-2, but Khatri recovered, wining the last two sets, 7-6 (5), 6-0 to foil an all-CNMI finals.
Thea Minor and Dina Jones were the two other CNMI bets who played in the Oceania Plate.
Minor competed in the seniors girls division and finished third in Pool A with a 3-2 record. Jones was also in Pool A and lost all five matches in the elimination round.
Adalyn Hazelman of Fiji ruled the Senior Girls division, topping Leilani Duchnak in the finals, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Dina, Rafael, Miller, Mayuko Arriola, and coach Jeff Race are expected to arrive on Saipan this morning. Minor will stay in Fiji, as she will be going to New Caledonia for a tournament next week, while Ji Hoon Heo is set to compete in a tournament in Japan from Aug. 27 to 31.
The CNMI Junior Team left Saipan for Fiji first week of August. They first played in the 2008 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships against the junior netters from the East and West teams.
