In the last two tournaments played internationally, a pair of International Tennis Federation J30s in Lautoka, Fiji, Guam’s Junhyuk “Kevin” Seo won one singles title and appeared in another final. After two stellar weeks of competition, Seo’s world ranking climbed from 822 to 666 and he was ready to return to his home soil and compete in the 2026 Citadel Guam Junior International J60 #1 and give his opponents a devilish time.
In his first three matches in the round robin, a brand new format at the J30 and J60 levels introduced by the ITF after 47 years of single elimination draws, Seo, the No. 5 seed won all of his matches. First he defeated Japan’s, Takayuki Sudo 6-3, 2-6, (11-9), then he beat Korea’s Yubeen Kim 6-3, 6-0, then Teipei’s Wei-Cheng Yang 6-3, 6-3. By winning Group E convincingly, Seo advanced to the knockout rounds, where he was knocked out by Japan’s Koyu Yanagi 6-2, 6-0 on the Dusit Thani Guam Resort-sponsored court at the Guam National Tennis Center in Harmon on Friday.
“I’m kind of like depressed now, but I was hitting as hard as I can, but I missed a lot,” Seo said. “I’m going to practice how to like make more balls and be more consistent.”
Yanagi, the No. 1-seeded player, in six sets played, had only lost four games to the quarterfinals (knockout round).
“Yanagi proved to be too much for Seo with consistent rallies and patient play combined with his fierce lefty forehand,” said GNTC Director Ryan Horn.
For the first five games, Seo matched the No. 242 world-ranked Yanagi shot for set and point for point. But as the match wore on, Seo wore out, losing 10 straight games and getting eliminated.
“He didn’t miss. I was missing a lot. I was hitting out or into the net, and I think he made more first serves, and his lefty serve was bothering me a lot,” Seo said.
During those first handful of games, the left-handed Yanagi and Seo battled from the baseline. But after Yanagi broke Seo’s serve and took a one-game lead at 3-2, Seo’s groundstrokes became shorter and his unforced errors mounted. And as the intense, high-noon sun rose above the players and unleashed its brilliance and heat, Seo succumbed to the pressure. Yanagi, who appeared fresh throughout the match, unleashed powerful groundstrokes that kept Seo either pinned to the baseline or scrambling from side to side.
“Today I didn’t move forward. I was always staying in the green,” said Seo, referring to the space behind the baseline. “I wasn’t really feeling confidence to move forward,” added Seo, telling the Post that approaching the net in Fiji is what led to his success.
Yanagi told the Post that he was very happy to win, and it took him a few games to figure out Seo’s heavy topspin groundstrokes.
“I can’t adjust to the topspin, but after three-two, I hit the more powerful and more aggressive,” he said.
On match point, Yanagi blasted a crosscourt, backhand winner. After his shot landed in and pounded the backdrop attached to the chainlink fence, the 17-year-old danced and approached the net to shake hands with the 16-year-old Seo.
“I’m just happy,” Yanagi said.
While Team Guam’s Seo had the most success, five other athletes from Gua competed in Harmon, including Camelo Chen, Jacob Hsiao, Malachi O’Brien, Leah and Rachel San Agustin.
“It has been a fantastic first week of competition in the ITF WTT J60 – held at GNTC in Harmon. Six local players battling it out against some of the top world junior players,” Horn said.
