Race: Lee’s US Open debut ‘biggest thing’ in CNMI sports

Northern Marianas Sports Association Hall of Famer Jeff Race hailed Carol Lee’s U.S. Open debut as a landmark moment for CNMI sports as the islands’ top tennis player battled Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament.

“This is the biggest thing that's ever happened in sports in the CNMI right here,” Race said during a watch party last Aug. 31 at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. “This is it. You're looking at it. This match is the penultimate height that CNMI sports has ever reached.”

Watch party organizer and Crowne Plaza Learning and Development manager Glenn Policare said the resort wanted to rally behind Lee after watching her rise from the local tennis courts to one of the sport’s biggest stages.

“Are you kidding? We've been following, I've been following Carol Lee since she was a little girl. When I used to see her hit balls at Kanoa [Resort] with her dad and when we heard that Carol Lee was going to be on the big stage, we had to do something for her,” Policare said.

Lee eventually fell to the world No. 62 Boulter, 4-6, 6-3, 0-6, but pushed the more experienced British player to a deciding third set. Lee, a Saipan Community School alumna ranked No. 143 in the WTA Tour, had taken the second set 6-3 after narrowly dropping the opener.

A handful of supporters attended the early-morning watch party at Crowne Plaza to follow Lee’s historic appearance.

Race, speaking after Lee captured the second set, said she appeared comfortable and had put herself in position to challenge Boulter.

“Carol lost the first set by only one point and now she's just won the second set 6-3 and she's rolling. She's rolling and she's very into the match. She's looking very comfortable and relaxed,” Race said.

He said Lee would have to remain mentally strong against Boulter’s experience and continue executing her game plan.

“Carol's just got to be very tough mentally and continue to be aggressive and execute her game plan which is to keep the ball to the girl's backhand and to move her out wide to the forehand,” Race said.

Race also stressed that although Lee competes internationally under the U.S. flag, her sporting roots remain firmly in the CNMI.

“Oh she's CNMI. She competes on our national team. She competes for us in the Pacific Games. She's a gold medalist in the Pacific Games and she's going to be competing for us in the Pacific Games next year,” he said.

Race recalled seeing Lee’s potential when he coached her as a youngster, including during junior competition in Fiji.

“When I was coaching her the first time I took her to Fiji, I had never seen her get nervous before and then she got nervous and I realized that she was human. But the next year she went back and won in Fiji and then she won every year that she played after that,” he said.

Policare, meanwhile, said during the match that Lee was showing she belonged on the Grand Slam stage.

“It's been incredible. A little nervous to begin with,” he said. “Carol Lee's been taking it to her, is not getting smoked by any means. I think in this third match she's starting to slowly learn and starting to evolve so this has been a much closer battle than I think that we had anticipated.”

Lee’s father, Dom Min Lee, also expressed his pride in his daughter following the match and thanked those who supported her from the CNMI and elsewhere.

“To my daughter Carol Lee, you left it all on the court today. Words can’t express how proud I am of you!” he said via social media. “As her dad, I want to sincerely thank everyone who cheered her on and sent warm words of support. Your energy kept her fighting until the very end. Please keep following and supporting Carol on her journey!”

Lee’s U.S. Open appearance adds another milestone to a career that has taken her from Saipan’s tennis courts to the professional tour. Race said Lee remains committed to representing the CNMI at next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti.

“She has committed to playing in the games in Tahiti next year for us,” he said.