Chung sisters win in women’s singles

From left, tournament director Lydia Tan, women’s 4.0 singles runner-up Hoo Wang, women’s 4.0 singles champion Irin Chung, and Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director Carline Sablan during the awards banquet for the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic last Sunday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

The Chung sisters—Irin and Serin—won the women’s 4.0 singles and women’s open singles championships in the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic last Sunday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Irin topped the women’s 4.0 singles after defeating Hoo Wang, 4-6, 6-2, 10-2, in what proved to be the finals as the third player of the round-robin draw, Savita Sikkel, pulled out on account of an injury.

“I was able to win my match against Hoo Wang even though I lost my first set because I played more aggressive and took more risks in the second set and super tiebreak,” said the 13-year-old student from Saipan International School.

Irin, who started playing tennis at Aces Tennis Academy when she was 9, is dedicating the women’s 4.0 singles title primarily to herself.

“I am dedicating this championship to myself since I worked hard to win my tennis matches. I would like to thank coach Jeff Race and coach Tommy Choi for helping me improve my tennis and my family for all the support. I also appreciate the people who practice tennis with me for making tennis such an enjoyable sport,” she said.

Meanwhile, Serin got a payback of sorts when she beat boys 16-and-under winner Hye Jin Eliott in the women’s open singles championship, 0-6, 6-4, 10-7. Serin lost to Eliott in the finals of the boys age group only a week prior.

From left, tournament director Lydia Tan, women’s open singles runner-up Hye Jin Elliot, women’s open singles champion Serin Chung, and Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director Carline Sablan during the awards banquet for the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic last Sunday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

“Yes, I definitely was worried after being blanked in the opening set. I just told myself to play more aggressive. I think I was less nervous in the second set so I was able to play better,” she said when asked how she overcame her struggles in the first set.

Serin also congratulated her sister for winning the women’s 4.0 singles. “It’s very neat. I’m glad she also won.”

She dedicated her women’s open singles win in the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic to their parents, Jong Bum Chung and Rie Nakai.

In the women’s singles 3.0, Gillan Mae Lucero took the tiara after beating Yuko Kamada, 6-1, 6-1. Kamada got some measure of revenge when she teamed up with Harumi Suzuki in ruling the women’s 4.0 doubles after beating Lucero and Marivic Dunlop, 1-6, 6-2, 20-18 in a marathon finals.

In the women’s 3.0 doubles, Ami Miyawaki and Yoshiko Song prevailed in their championship tiff against Karen Klesson and Thu Tran, 6-2, 6-1.