Top seeds prevail in mixed-up doubles

Sam Culp and Juncheol Hwang in action in last weekend’s 2020 White-Coconut Classic at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (Mark Rabago)

A parade of top seeds advanced in the mixed-up doubles division of last weekend’s 2020 White-Coconut Classic at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Fourth seeds Takeru Kim and Kim Song are safely into the quarterfinals after winning their second and third round assignments. They first were a 6-2, 6-4 winners over Henry Choi and Colin Ramsey last Saturday before returning to the AMP tennis courts on Sunday for their match against Martin Jambor and Lina Tsukagoshi and triumphed, 6-3, 6-3.

Also into the fourth round are third seeded June Yu and Ji Hwan Ryu. They first beat Jihun Park and Helen Kim, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round before winning via walkover against Simon Tang and T.J. Bellama. The latter were coming off a dramatic 7-6, 6-7, 10-6 victory against Quido Jambor and Elizabeth Culp.

Top seeds Jeff Race and Hoo Wang advanced to the third round following a 6-1, 6-0 win over Irin Chung and Jinhui Jeong, while the seventh seeded pair of Isaac Heo and Seiyul Hong also advanced following a 6-4, 6-4 conquest of David Ki Won and Serin Chung.

Jun Wang and Yebin Shin scored a 6-2, 6-0 win over Derrick and Eliza Culp to get into the third round. Also onto the next round are Nason Wessel and Ken Imaya after surviving Yutaka Kadokura and John Bradley, 6-3, 6-2.

Men’s singles top seed Robbie Schorr also moved ahead with his partner, Eun Been Hwang, after the duo completed a 6-0, 6-2 win over Cody Shimizu and Eun Been Hwang. Landon Pudney and Gary Ramsey were also a 6-0, 6-4 victors over Anna Lee and Daniel Kang.

In the lower half of the draw, after getting a bye in the first round, No. 8 seed Sam Culp and Juncheol Hwang advanced to the third round with a tough 6-1, 3-6, 11-9 win over Allan Lee and Jieun Anna Kwon. Lee and Kwon beat Eliza Culp and Peter Loken, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 in the first round.

No. 2 seeds Jimin Woo and Seo Hee Lee also got into the third round after bouncing Danny Jeoung and Sarka Jambor, 6-3, 6-0. Jeoung and Jambor won via walkover in their first round match against Yuko Kamada and Ji Houn Lee.

Third seeds Wataru Kadokura and Brian Wessel didn’t have to break into a sweat in their walkover win against Eugene Park and Jeong Bin Park, while Vincent Tudela and Isa Nishitani joined them in the third round with a marathon 7-5, 6-7 (5), 10-3 win over Leo and Andy Kim.

Results of the 2020 White-Coconut Classic boys U16, U14, and U12 divisions will be published in the next few days.

The Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association is organizing the 2020 White-Coconut Classic. For more information on the 2020 White-Coconut Classic, call tournament coordinator Jeff Race at 483-5652 or email raceaces@yahoo.com.