JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS

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By Colin Leon Guerrero

Boys 18 and under competitor Joshua Cepeda fist pumps after a successful return at the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

It was an eventful Saturday afternoon for 15-year-old Joshua Cepeda as he captured the boy’s 18-and-under division gold medal in the Tennis Academy of Guam’s annual Junior Tennis Championships at the Sheraton Laguna Resort tennis courts. Cepeda went down to the wire with someone he knows fairly well, his nephew and double’s teammate 14-year-old Brian Tuncap, in an epic battle that Cepeda would eventually win 11-9.

The two were already primed up from having competed side by side in the doubles tournament where they also captured the gold together over Anthony John and Tom Park with a score of 10-8. But by the time their single’s match came around both boys went to their respective sides on the court and played a very dramatic final.

Tuncap would get the early advantage on his uncle going up quick in the first three games 2-1, but as the fourth game rolled around Cepeda started things off with a bang with a nice ace to give him a lead at 15-0. Josh would eventually end the match with another ace tying the score at two games apiece.

Boys 18 and under singles competitor Brian Tuncap lunges for the shot at the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Throughout the entire match neither would give in, as the momentum was always shifting between the two young athletes. One of the highlights of the entire match was during the ninth game when Cepeda was spreading himself out using the whole court to save balls left and right trying to prevent Tuncap from scoring, which he eventually did after finding an open spot on the court. This particular game would come down to a couple of deuces before Tuncap gained the advantage and game, giving him the lead on the match, 5 games to 4.

When asked about his strategy Tuncap was looking to play smart and be consistent.

As for Cepeda he simply said, “Just go for it.”

It seemed that both of them stuck to their game plans as they found themselves battling for control in a pretty even matchup.

After a slew of back and forth games and a couple of deuces, fatigue was starting to show in both athletes. But it was at that time Cepeda locked his head into the game and started to take over. After allowing Tuncap to even things up at nine games each, Cepeda went in and closed things out winning two straight games. Cepeda ended the deuce-breaking game on a strong ace defeating Tuncap 40-love and winning the 18 and under singles finals.

OTHER FINALS RESULTS: 

Boys’ 12 singles final: Eddie Chung def. Mason Caldwell 10-8

Boys’ 14 singles final: Brian Tuncap def. Andrew Chung 11-9

Girls’ 12 singles final: Nozomi Yamasawa def. Anika Sachdev 10-7

Girls’ 18 singles final: Camdyn Nadler def. Alyssa Bristol 10-3

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Boys 18 and under competitors Joshua Cepeda and Brian Tuncap hug after the completion of their match. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Joshua Cepeda chases the ball for the over-the-head shot at the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 18 and under singles competitor Joshua Cepeda. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 18 and under singles competitor Joshua Cepeda. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Brian Tuncap backhands the ball at the singles competition at the the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Tom Park congratulates Brian Tuncap and Joshua Cepeda after the doubles match during the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 16 and under competitor Tom Park. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Joshua Cepeda reaches for a return during the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 16 and under doubles team of Anthony John (left) and Tom Park (right). (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 16 and under doubles team of Joshua Cepeda (left) and Brian Tuncap (right). (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 18 and under competitor Anthony John. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 18 and under competitor Brian Tuncap readies for the oncoming serve. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Tom Park serves during the Boys 16 and under doubles during the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Edward Chung backhands the ball to Mason Caldwell. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 12 and under competitor Mason Caldwell serves during the Junior Tennis Championship. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Boys 12 and under competitor Mason Caldwell. (photo by Kevin Wang)

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