Top-seeded Michael Russell beat Ryler Deheart, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, yesterday in the first round of the Honolulu Challenger, a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, at the Pasty T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"I wasn't serving great and he made some good shots," Russell said of the former two-time All-American from Illinois. "I kinda let him back in the match, but luckily I pulled it out."

Russell, who is from Houston and ranked No. 90 in the ATP, will next play Roko Karanusic of Croatia.

In a match featuring two local wild-card entries, University of Hawai'i sophomore Leo Rosenberg beat former Hawai'i Pacific standout Hendrik Bode, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

As a reward, Rosenberg earned seven ATP points and a match against No. 2 seed Kevin Kim.

"I was really nervous throughout the match," Rosenberg said. "It's my first Challenger and my first opportunity to get some points. ...

"In the tiebreaker, I saw that he was really tired and I became really confident because I knew that it's very difficult to maintain such big serves when you aren't conditioned for it."