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By Regina Shiroma

Joshua Cepeda looks to return the ball to his opponent in his semifinal match. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

The Tennis Academy Of Guam’s Junior Tennis Championships completed its semi-final round Friday at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort tennis courts. The gusty winds played a factor in the matches, making the ball land in unexpected places and giving it more lift than usual. With the 10 game pro set format in place (first to win ten games), games went by quickly, forcing players to take charge of their matches at the get-go.

In the 18-and-under division, the top two ranked players faced tough opponents in their matches.

No. 2 ranked Joshua Cepeda escaped an upset in his semifinal matchup against Anthony John. John, with a look of complete concentration on his face, held Cepeda down all the way to 7-0.

“I was scared because I’ve never been that down before,” said Cepeda. “I wasn’t concentrating, I was rushing too.”

At 7-0, enough was enough for Cepeda. After the sluggish start, Cepeda turned things around in game eight, winning his first game of the match. From then on Cepeda never looked back, not allowing John to win another game and going on to win 10-7.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘Dig deep; keep fighting; don’t give up.'”

In the first games, frustration could be seen all over Cepeda’s face as minor mistakes cost him a lot of points and John was persistent in returning anything that came to his side. As soon as Cepeda became calm and collected, Cepeda took control and began to slowly, but surely, make his comeback.

“He played really good today; props to him, he’s a good player,” said Cepeda of his opponent.

In the other 18-and-under semi final, No. 1 ranked Tom Park was upset by Brian Tuncap 10-3 in the early match of the day.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

14 and under competitor Camden Camacho. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

16 and under competitor Brian Tuncap Jr. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

18 and under competitor Anthony John. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

14 and under competitor Andrew Chung. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

18 and under competitor Joshua Cepeda. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

14 and under Edward Chung. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

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