UNSEEDED RICHARD HAWES WINS SINGLES EVENT

PRESS RELEASE – The 2020 Calvo’s SelectCare Grand Prix Tennis Tournament completed the 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 Men’s and Women’s Skilled Singles events and the Men’s and Women’s Aged Doubles over the past weekend. Over 70 entries were played at the new Guam National Tennis Center in Harmon, making it the single biggest draw to date.

In the Men’s 4.5 Skilled Singles, unseeded Richard Hawes defeated 7^th seed Aarman Sachdev in a grueling three sets 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. Hawes started the match very caustiously by moving Sachdev left and right, forcing him to make errors. Hawes was able to move the young player all over the court by hitting a drop shot forcing Sachdev to make another error, which ended the set.

After losing the first set, Sachdev turned things around by attacking any short ball that he was given, taking advantage of his volleys at the net, and hitting big serves at crucial points. He was able to force a third set in which the winner will be determined by a 10-point tiebreaker.

Hawes and Sachdev were neck and neck as each player forced each another to make the mistake. Hawes was serving for the match as he was up 9-8 when he hit a big serve causing Sachdev to hit his return into the net ending the match.

Hawes commented, “I just took each point as if it was match point. A great match and fine young junior Davis Cup player, so well behaved and very respectful to me. It was the first time I have entered a singles competition in 20 years and was so happy to win the 4.5!”

The other champions and finalists are as follows:

• Men’s 3.5
  • Steven Guevarra def.  2^nd seed Anthony Gregoire 6-2, 6-4
• Men’s 2.5 
  • Kotaro Roesch def.  2^nd seed Venancio Quiel 6-4, 6-4
• Women’s 3.5
  • 1^st seed Sydney Packbier def. 2^nd seed Fremont Gibson 7-6(3), 6-3
• Women’s 2.5
  • 2^nd seed Manarava Kawaguchi def. Eternity Nishiyama 6-0, 6-0
• Men’s 35+ Aged Doubles
  • 1^st Benjamin Dunn and Wendell Roden def. Ric Estella and Hirokazu Kuge 6-1, 6-4
• Men’s 45+ Aged Doubles
  • 1^st seed Herman Paul and David Underwood def. 2^nd seed Antonio Camacho and Ric Estella 4-6, 7-5, 10-5
• Men’s 55+ Aged Doubles Round Robin
  • Champions: Jeff Bristol and Richard Hawes 
  • Finalists: Tom Camacho and Peter Nedlic
• Women’s 35+ Aged Doubles
  • Diane Lee and Tess Pennell def. 2^nd seed Millie Leon Guerrero and Tara Steffy 6-1, 6-1
• Women’s 55+ Aged Doubles
  • Mae Hsieh and Atsuko Yamauchi def. Arn Diaz and Mona Taijeron 6-0, 6-2

This weekend, Feb 14-16, is the 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and Open Men’s and Women’s Skilled Singles events. Matches will begin Friday, Feb 14, 5:30pm at the Guam National Tennis Center in Harmon. The other events are their deadlines:

• Combined Skilled Doubles: Feb 21-23
  • Deadline: Feb 14
• Combined Skilled Mixed Doubles: Feb 28-Mar 1
  • Deadline: Feb 21
• Junior Singles is now scheduled for Mar 6-8

To register and for more information, go to www.tennisacademyguam.com or call Tournament Director Josh Cepeda at 483-8524