SAIPAN — Carol Young Suh Lee made history at the US Open, becoming the first player from the Pacific to compete in the main draw of a men’s or women’s Grand Slam event, and she made Britain’s Katie Boulter work for every game of it before falling 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in the first round on Court 5.
Lee struck eight aces to Boulter’s none and captured the second set 6-3 to push the match to a decider, saving ground against a player who needed 17 break-point chances to convert five. Lee won 94 points on the day, took 10 games, and converted two of her seven break opportunities before Boulter ran away with the third set.
“Carol is breaking new ground among athletes from not only the NMI but the whole Pacific region,” said NMI Tennis Coach Jeff Race. “This is a first time a player from the Pacific has been able to join the main draw of a men’s or women’s Grand Slam event. I know Carol’s family, who have been instrumental in her success, are thrilled. So is the sporting community here on our islands.”
Whatever the scoreline, the milestone stands: a player from the Northern Mariana Islands walked onto a US Open court as a main-draw competitor, served like she belonged, and took a set. The islands were watching.
