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Woo to play in Australia
Ji Min Woo prepares for a return from the baseline during a singles match in last year’s TanHoldings Tennis Classic at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan tennis courts. Woo will leave Saipan for Australia to compete in two events.
(Contributed Photo)
CNMI junior player Ji Min Woo will leave Saipan later this month to compete in the 2018 14/U Australian Championships in Victoria.
Woo will play in both the singles and doubles event of the tournament dubbed as December Showdown and will also suit up for Pacific Oceania in the team contest. The singles and doubles events will be held at the Melbourne Park from Dec. 1 to 6, while the team competition will take place from Dec. 7 to 10.
“I will leave on Nov. 29 and I am now back to training at the American Memorial Park tennis courts to prepare for the tournament,” said Woo, who was forced to suspend his preparation for the December Showdown for a week after Saipan was hit by Super Typhoon Yutu and left massive damage on island, including the various courts on Saipan.
The AMP court suffered the least damage among the tennis facilities on island, allowing Woo and company to resume their training sessions.
“Fortunately, I was able to return to training after the typhoon,” the Grace Christian Academy student said.
“I hope to get through the first round in Australia and win a few matches,” he added.
This will be Woo’s second appearance in the December Showdown. Last year, Woo dropped his opening singles match in the main draw, as he was outclassed by Queensland’s Massimo O’Hanlon, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1. Woo and his doubles partner Erid Padgham also lost to No. 8 seed Kousuke Morita and Edward Winter in the opener, 6-3, 6-1.
In the team event, Woo played with Tahiti’s Eli Manovai and Tonga’s Christopher Maaasi and they fell to South Australia, New South Wales, and the All-Stars in pool play. No. 3 seed Victoria won the team event, pulling off an upset over No. 1 Queensland in the finals, 2-1.
