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Lee rules men’s singles field
Carol Lee stretches for a return during her and Steven Goodwin’s doubles match against Jeff Race and Isabel Heras yesterday in the 8th Annual Tan Holdings Tennis Classic at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan courts. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The lone female player in the men’s 5.0 singles event in the 8th Annual Tan Holdings Tennis Classic was also the only one left standing at the conclusion of the competition yesterday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan courts.
Carol Lee survived the men’s field, clinching the division title after easing past Saipan Tennis Academy coach Peter Loken, 4-0, 4-1. Lee also swept her two other foes in the upper half of the bracket on her way to a finals showdown against Loken. The world ranked No. 471 first outclassed Ken Song last Friday, 6-3, 6-1, and then topped Michael Ren in the semis last Saturday, 6-4, 6-3. Ren defeated Vincent Tudela, 6-4, 6-2, to book a semis berth at the top half of the draw.
At the lower half Loken and the second-seeded Bobby Cruz advanced to the semis after posting contrasting wins last weekend. Loken won an extended game against Moris Villanueva last Friday, 6-2, 3-6, 10-3, while Cruz beat junior player Ji Min Woo, 6-1, 6-2. Loken then got his second straight victory and arranged a title duel against the top seeded Lee after prevailing against Cruz in the semis, 6-4, 6-2. Lee and Loken played in a shortened finale as organizers had to complete the rained-out matches in the second and final week of the annual tournament.
Meanwhile, Woo, after falling short in the men’s 5.0 singles, triumphed in the men’s 4.0 singles. The No. 1 seed Woo bagged the division title after stunning top-ranked Steven Goodwin, 6-3, 6-0.
Goodwin marched into the finals after winning over Jeffrey Seo, 6-3, 6-0. Woo set up the finals duel between the Top 2 seeded players in the field after dominating Seung Jin Paik in similar scores.
In the men’s 3.0 singles, Bong Roluna got two free victories and went unbeaten in three games to take the division championship. He won over Felixberto Roluna via forfeiture and then defeated junior player Daniel Kang in the semis, 6-1, 6-3. In the finals, Roluno was also handed he win via walkover after a no-show from Edwin Simbulan, a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Chris Kim in the semis. Simbulan also swept Minkyu Song, 6-0, 6-0, to arrange a semis meeting with Chris Kim.
