Tennis courts reopen after clean up

Super Typhoon Sinlaku might have caused extensive destruction, but it didn’t weaken the spirit of the sports community. Many sports federations have organized cleanup efforts at their facilities, with the tennis federation coming together to restore the American Memorial Park tennis courts after the storm. Debris—including branches, trash, netting, shattered glass, damaged lighting structures, and scattered bleachers—covered the area. The freestanding hitting wall had also collapsed.

In an interview with Marianas Press on Thursday, Apr. 23, at the AMP tennis courts, young tennis player Timothy Watson, who began helping with cleanup efforts on Wednesday, April 22, alongside other community members and workers, said they worked to restore the courts so people could return to play and de-stress.

However, with power still out and the lights damaged, playtime is currently limited to the hours before sunset.

A group also helped clean the tennis courts at Pacific Islands Club and Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

Watson thanked those who assisted in the cleanup, including players Matt Zhu, Vivian Chung and her mother Alice, Tim’s father Toby, his father’s staff, and others.

According to NMITF technical director and national team coach Jeff Race, the tournament scheduled for the end of May has been postponed until further notice.

Before the typhoon, a group of players from the CNMI competed in Fiji from Apr. 10-18 in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships. Watson was part of the group, which required a rescue flight and returned home on Monday, April 20. Reflecting on their experience, Watson said, “We didn’t place very well, but we played our hardest.”