Number one seeds Benny Lin and Kristin Godridge bagged their second major title in Hong Kong this year when the experienced pair defeated second seeds Melvin Tong and teen prodigy, Venise Chan, 6-4, 6-1, at the CRC Open 2003 mixed doubles final earlier today. Lin and Godridge had also won the mixed doubles title at the HK National Tennis Championships in April this year.

As in the semifinals, the top seeds began slowly and immediately dug themselves a 0-3 hole against Tong and Chan. Although Tong is a former Hong Kong No. 1 and a seasoned Davis Cupper for the territory, his 14-year-old partner Chan is still relatively green at the senior level, especially in the game of doubles, and the experienced team of Lin and Godridge proved a little too solid to break down in the end.

Although Tong tried his best to carry the load and urged his young partner on whenever possible, once the No. 1 seeds had turned it around to secure the opening set, they turned up the heat and simply ran away with the second set, winning it 6-1.

Having said that, the up-and-coming Chan has lost nothing in defeat, and she is sure to make serious headway in the upcoming School Girls' Singles, where she is the No. 1 seed, and the Ladies' Singles, where she is seeded second behind defending champion Polly Lam Po Kuen.

Just last month, Chan became the youngest player in the territory in more than a decade to capture a local major when she won the SCAA Open Women's Singles title, a feat not achieved since former Hong Kong No. 1 Willy Chan did so in 1990. She is also the only player in Hong Kong at present to hold an ITF Junior World Ranking in singles.

Results
CRC Open 2003

Mixed Doubles
Final
(1)Benny Lin/Kristin Godridge d. (2)Melvin Tong/Venise Chan 6-4 6-1