Lee, Schorr deliver

Sean Lee reaches for the ball during his title game against Sam Ryu in the boys U16 singles event in the 2019 DFS CNMI Junior Championships yesterday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Top-ranked players Sean Lee and Robbie Schorr did not disappoint, as they ruled their respective singles events in the 2019 DFS CNMI Junior Championships yesterday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Lee swept all his three opponents to take the boys U16 singles championship in Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association’s last local tournament for the 2018-2019 season. He clinched the division title following a 6-0, 6-4 victory over No. 2 Sam Ryu in yesterday’s finale.

Earlier in the semifinals, Lee, who blanked Eugene Park in the opening week of the competition, eliminated No. 3 Andy Kim in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, to bag the finals ticket at the top half of the draw. At the bottom half, Ryu also needed only two sets to march into the finals after ousting Isaac Heo, 6-0, 6-1. Heo ended up playing in the consolation game against Kim and the latter won, 6-1, 6-3, to join Lee and Ryu in the Top 3.

In other consolation matches, Gang Min Kim dominated Hyumin Cho, 6-0, 6-0, while Eugene Park edged out No. 4 Jun Wang, 7-6 (1), 7-5.

In the boys U18 singles, the favored Schorr emerged as the champion, as he was unbeaten in three games.

The reigning Tan Siu Lin Foundation/Northern Marianas Sports Association Male Student Athlete of the Year earned a perfect record in the round-robin contest and secured the division crown after slipping past Ji Min Woo in three sets. Schorr drew first blood, 6-1, but missed the sweep when Woo came back with a 4-6 triumph in the second set. Then in the deciding third set, Schorr reasserted his might over Woo for a 6-2 win.

Schorr and Woo held similar 2-0 records after last Saturday’s matches, making their duel yesterday the title-deciding match. Woo downed Vincent Tudela, while Schorr prevailed against Andy Kim, 6-1, 6-0, in Week 1 of the tournament. Then on the second and final week, Schorr and Woo won via walkover against Tudela and Kim, respectively. Tudela after not playing last Friday, showed up at the AMP yesterday and rallied past Kim, 2-6, 6-0, 10-5, to clinch third place.

In another round-robin event, Riku Takahashi notched the boys U10 singles championship after earning an undefeated record. Kadokura first downed Riku Takahashi, 6-2, in Week 1 of the tournament and then blanked Kiwon Lee yesterday, 6-0, to rule the division. Lee finished second, as he earlier prevailed over Takahashi, 6-4.

Meanwhile, other winners in the tournament supported by DFS (title sponsor) Pacific Subsea, Triple J, and Marianas Fertility Clinic will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.