Jimin Woo dominates boys U18 singles

Jimin Woo in action during his finals match against Sam Ryu in the boys 18-and-under division of the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic yesterday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (MARK RABAGO)

Top seed Jimin Woo didn’t drop a set as he dominated the boys 18-and-under division of the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic this weekend at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Paired opposite unseeded Sam Ryu in the finals yesterday, Woo sailed through a 6-2 victory in the opening set before facing some resistance in the second. With his back against the wall, Ryu gambled and succeeded with some risky winners to make a game of it before eventually succumbing to Woo’s powerful forehand and lost 6-4.

Woo said he was glad the championship game didn’t go into a deciding third and final set on account of the scorching conditions at the tennis courts.

“It was very hot because there were no cloud up here. It was also very windy so it was tough to play. Sam played really well and I had a hard time in the second set. It was fun though,” he said.

The 17-year-old Saipan International School student also acknowledged that the two-week delay because of the COVID-19 community spread messed up his preparations for the tournament a little bit.

“I was preparing for it and then came the two-week delay. I didn’t come out here and play that much because I was trying to be safe,” said Woo, who dedicated his win yesterday to his parents.

Woo reached the finals after beating Jun Wang, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round. He then booked the finals ticket with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Isaac Heo.

Ryu opened the tournament with a 6-3, 6-4 upset of second seed Andy Kim. He then earned the right to face Woo for all the marbles following a hard-fought 7-5, 6-2 triumph over David Kwon.

In the boys 14-and-under, second seed Nasson Wessel pulled the rug from under top seed Henry Choi, 6-0, 7-6 (5). Wessel beat Ki Won Lee (6-0, 6-0) and Taher Shakir (6-1, 6-1) to advance to the finals. Choi, meanwhile, only needed to beat Si Woo Lee, 6-0, 6-2, to enter the championships round after getting a bye in the first round.

Yutaka Kadokura won the boys 12-and-under following a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Ryan Choi in the finals. He advanced to the championship game following a 6-3, 7-5 nipping of Jihun Park following a bye in the opening round. Choi made it to the finals after winning over Ian Chae (6-3, 5-3 retired), and second seed Eamon Tan (7-5, 6-2).

In the boys 10-and-under, Quido Jambor ruled the roost after accumulating 6 points in the round-robin format. He beat Stella Choi (6-1), Michael Minjoon Jeon (6-2), and Seung Woo Lee (6-1). Choi finished second in the age group with 4 points, followed by Jeo and Lee with, respectively.

Results of the other girls singles and boys and girls doubles of the 2021 TanHoldings Tennis Classic will be published in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.