White Coconut Memorial Tennis Classic underway

The White Coconut Memorial Tennis Classic is underway at the American Memorial Park Tennis Courts, with players of all ages competing for one-of-a-kind trophies—white-painted coconuts that match the tournament’s name.

The long-running event traces back to longtime sponsors Bud and Donna White and their business, White Coconut Computer Services. Over the years, awarding white-painted coconuts became a tournament tradition. After the Whites passed away, NMI Tennis Federation technical director and former longtime president Jeff Race said he reached out to their children and officially renamed the event the White Coconut Memorial Tennis Classic in their honor.

Race said it’s his favorite tournament in Saipan, especially because of its unique “mixed up doubles” format. Unlike traditional mixed doubles, the division pairs more experienced players with younger or less experienced competitors.

The tournament also features traditional age groups and divisions for both adults and juniors. Many of the junior players are coming off a strong performance in Guam at the North Pacific Regional Championships and are now using this tournament as preparation for the Pacific Oceania Regional Championships in Fiji this April.

With the team’s performance in Guam, Race said it’s a very positive development for the CNMI.

“We’re going to try to get the best performance we can when we get to Fiji,” Race said.

This Saturday’s (Feb. 21) matchups include Cody Park vs. Seungwoo Lee (MS4), Stella Choi vs. Hoo Wang (WS), Natsuki Tilipa vs. Jane Choi (GS10), John Bradley vs. Richard Li (MS3), Cody Park and Evan Zhang vs. Jason Choi and Peter Loken (Mixed Up Doubles), Tylor Kang vs. Lawrence Kwan (BS10), John Casauran vs. Daniel Kang (MS), Matthew Hwang vs. Henry Choi (MS), Derek Li vs. Yo Suzuki (BS12), Jason Choi vs. Richard Li (MS3), Tomas Abel vs. Ryan Choi (MS), June Yu vs. Siwoo Lee (MS), Paul Jang vs. Seungwoo Lee (MS4), Daniel Kang vs. Isaiah Arriola-Mook (BS14), Matthew Hwang and Fiona Yu vs. Siwoo Lee and Ming Pascual (Mixed Up Doubles), Matt Zhu vs. Richard Li (BS12), and Tim Watson vs. Evan Zhang (BS12).

Sunday’s (Feb. 22) schedule features Hannah Chae vs. Hoo Wang (WS2), Cody Park vs. Isaiah Arriola-Mook (BS14), John Bradley vs. Jason Choi (MS3), Daniel Kang vs. Matt Zhu (BS14), Ming Pascual vs. Hua Jin (WS3), Gabriel Walsh vs. Yo Suzuki (BS12), Fiona Yu vs. Selina Chi (GS14), Seungwoo Lee vs. Isaiah Arriola-Mook (BS14), Cody Park vs. Jason Choi (BS14), Stella Choi vs. Irin Chung (WS), Anne Lee vs. Vivian Chung (GS16), Lynore He vs. Annabella Zhu (GS10), Paul Jang vs. Matt Zhu (MS4), Scarlett Loken vs. Harper Loken (GS14), and Tylor Kang vs. Grayson Jo.