Lee Advances to Second Round of Samsung Challenger

Korean star player Lee Hyung-taek (Samsung Securities) advanced to the second round of the Samsung Securities` International Men`s Challenger Tournament worth $75 million.

Top-seeded Lee defeated Lee Hyun-wook (Hyundai Marine Insurance) 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of tournament held at the Olympic Court on Sept. 16. Lee, having decided to donate whatever prize money he would earn at the tournament to typhoon victims, said, ˝I feel great, and I wish to help those suffering from losses by doing well and winning prize.˝

Lee, having won the championship in 2000 and 2001, aims for his third title this year. He will have a second-round match with the winner of the match between Seok Hyun-joon (Pohang High School) and Cecil Marmit of U.S. on Sept. 17.

According to the world men`s ranking released on the day, Lee jumped two ranks to the 65th.

Andrea Binsigera of Sweden (86th) and Justin Gimelstop of U.S. (89th) also advanced to the second round. Binsigera beat Gang Byung-gook (Industrial Bank) 6-0, 6-2, and Gimelstop downed Lee Chul-hee (Gyeongsan City Hall) 6-4, 6-2.

1.9 meter-tall young player Jun Woong-sun (SMI Academy) was dropped out of the race, defeated by Petre Looxa of Czech 4-6, 3-6. Kim Sun-young (Yangmyung High School) was also downed by Suzuki Dakao of Japan 2-6, 4-6.

Of 11 Koreans qualified for the tournament, 9 except Lee and Seok Hyung-joon who has yet to play his first round, were all dropped out of the race, facing the high wall of world tennis.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com