Heavy rain in two spells on Monday evening forced a huge backlog of first-round matches in the ongoing Tep Khunnah Memorial ITF Grade 5 junior tennis tournament at the National Training Centre in Phnom Penh.

Scrambling to get the schedule back on track, 10 matches were seen through on the tennis complex’s three main courts.

“It was an unprecedented challenge of getting the main draw in order. There were lot of inconviences for the players and officials but they extended great cooperation,” Tennis Cambodia’s head of Junior Development Phalkun Mam said.

When play resumed, one of the notable upsets from the boys draw was Yu Jin-seok of South Korea toppling fourth-seeded Noppadol Noikor of Thailand 7-5, 6-3.

Top-seeded Supapitch Kuearum of Thailand made quick work of Lee Ji-youn of Korea 6-1, 6-3.

Cambodia’s only female contender this time around, Ho Sreynoch lost out to Kim Hui-gyeong of South Korea, 6-0, 6-0.

There was definite improvement from Sreynoch in the way game scores went and her assurance on court, but it was not enough against the battle-hardened Kim.

Past Tep Khunnah winner Charmaine Seah of Singapore took care of first-round business 6-2, 6-1 over Thamonpan Jonglertrakul of Thailand.

Charmaine is the fourth seed in this year’s event.