Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports

Starting last Saturday, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa tennis complex became home to the 2007 United States Tennis Association Honolulu Futures tennis tournament. All five members of the UH men's tennis team competed as individuals in the USTA's pro circuit tournament: Two Warriors advanced into Wednesday's singles play and one men's doubles team was ousted in the main draw Tuesday afternoon.

On Sunday and Monday, junior Sascha Heinemann and sophomore Andreas Weber qualified into the main singles draw with matches scheduled for Wednesday. Both players are nationally ranked, with Heinemann at No. 50 and Weber at No. 28 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason rankings.

Weber dropped American Patrick Frandji in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 in third-round action of the qualifying singles draw on Monday to advance. The sophomore owns a 3-1 singles record on the season. Weber will face American Brad Lam-Tucker. Their match is scheduled for Wednesday morning, just before the Heinemann match.

Last Sunday, Heinemann defeated Hong-Tae Kim of Korea in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the third round of qualifiers in order to advance to the main draw. Heinemann will face American Dennis Lajola, brother of former Warrior and Rainbow Wahine tennis assistant coach, Derrick Lajola. Last week at the USTA Waikoloa Futures pro circuit tournament, Dennis Lajola defeated Weber 7-5, 6-4.

The Warriors have not been as successful in the doubles tournament. The duo of Heinemann and Weber lost a 6-3, 6-2 decision to the second-seeded team of Carsten Ball and Rylan Rizza in the first round, while the team of junior Jeff Fitch and sophomore Spence Mendoza dropped a 6-4, 6-2 match to the fourth-seeded duo of Ikaika Jobe and Brad Lum-Tucker on Tuesday afternoon to be ousted in the main doubles round of 16.

In the first three days of play, 64 players gathered in a qualifying draw for the singles tournament. The top eight advanced to the main draw and competed among 32 athletes.

According to the International Tennis Federation, they aim to promote the potential of junior players in the men's pro circuit by holding tournaments throughout the world. These week-long tournaments are called futures, and the one in Honolulu is managed by the United States Tennis Association.

The Honolulu Futures is a men's singles and doubles tournament with players from throughout the world. The prize money for the tournament is $15,000. Admission to the tournament is free and all information and schedules can be found at http://www.usta.com/ in the pro tennis and pro circuit division. Use the keywords "Oceanic Time-Warner Cable 2007 Honolulu Futures" to find the appropriate information with ease.

The tournament continues all week and will end with the main draw finals this Sunday, Nov. 18, at the UH Tennis Complex.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools