The Cook Islands development team recorded excellent results at the Pacific Oceania Junior Tennis Championships being held in Lautoka, Fiji.

Maka Maui has made the 16 and under Boys Singles final and Raetea Rongo is through to 14U Girls Singles final after four rounds of competition. Both finals will be played this morning (Cook Islands time).

National head coach Malcolm Kajer is guiding a team of four young development players – Maka Maui and Luke Pierre competing in 16U Boys, Katee Timeri Wearing (16U Girls) and Raetea Rongo (14U Girls).

Cook Islands played some tough matches in the preliminary rounds this week and managed to book two final spots.

Kajer said: “There are a whole lot of excellent players in all age groups from the various nations in the East, North and West Pacific. To my surprise, it has not been all smooth going for Maka as he did encounter some tough opposition from the PNG and Northern Mariana Islands players.”

“Raetea Rongo also had been pushed on various occasions, but mentally stayed strong to overcome these challenges. Both Raetea and Maka will be playing our close neighbours from Tahiti in the finals.”

Both players have teamed up with their opponents in the final, Noah Ah Kim and Mia Chang of Tahiti, to try and win the doubles in their respective age groups.

Timeri Wearing had it hard in the early rounds as she had top players in her pool from Tahiti and Guam who had participated in the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan earlier this year, Kajer said.

However, she performed extremely well in the consolation rounds, and should progress to achieve a positive ranking.

“Luke Pierre has had it a bit tough as this is his first year in this event, but with hard work he should be a good contender next year as he will have another year in the boys 16U division,” Kajer said.

“It has been excellent for Raetea to make the finals despite being a 13-year-old. The whole team has performed well and as coach, I am so proud of my little team here. All the best to them for the rest of the tournament.”

Results

Maka Maui: Maka Maui vs Jonathon Jackson – Maka won 6-3 6-0, Maka Maui vs Christopher Kaiulo – Maka won 7-5 6-0, Maka Maui vs Min Soo Kwon –Maka won 6-4 6-2, Noah Ah Kim Win Chin and Maka Maui vs Roman Awano and Siale Draunidalo – Maka and Noah won 6-0 6-0, Maka Maui vs Fintan Molbaleh – Maka won 6-0 6-0, Maka Maui vs Sugar-Ray Hakena – Maka won 6-3 6-2; Luke Pierre: Luke Pierre vs Sugar-Ray Hakena – Sugar-Ray won 6-0 6-0, Luke Pierre vs Andy Cajigan – Andy won 6-1 6-0, Titus Paul and Luke Pierre vs Andy Cajigan and Min Soo Kwon – Andy and Min Soo won 6-0 6-0,  Luke Pierre vs Rowan Awano – Luke won 6-0 6-0, Luke Pierre vs Christopher Kaiulo – Christopher won 6-1 6-2; Katee Wearing:  Katee Wearing vs Freemont Gibson – Freemont won 6-0 6-0, Katee Wearing vs Rhiana Hafees – Katee won 6-0 6-0, Katee Wearing vs Meehetia Boosie – Meehetia won 6-3 6-1, Rhiana Hafees and Katee Wearing vs Meehetia Boosie and Tavero Chung – Meehetia and Tavero won 6-0 6-1, Katee Wearing vs Galyah Mikel – Katee won 6-1 6-2,  Katee Wearing vs Abigail Coeullet – Katee won 6-0 6-0, Katee Wearing vs Savita Sikkel – Katee won 6-0 6-0; Raetea Rongo: Raetea Rongo vs Anna Kwon – Raetea won 6-3 6-3, Raetea Rongo vs Pauline Hyun – Raetea won 6-4 6-2, Raetea Rongo vs Hoo Wang – Raetea won 6-2 2-6 10-3, Raetea Rongo vs Irin Chung – Raetea won 6-1 6-3.