Atlanta's Donald Young held off Tim Smyczek, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, yesterday in a first-round match of the Honolulu Challenger, a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit event being held at the Pasty T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"Definitely looking forward to playing another round," said Young, who in 2005 became the youngest-ever year-end world junior No. 1, "and hopefully getting through."

Young, who is ranked 194 in the ATP, will play Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, who upset No. 6 seed Michael Yani 6-2, 7-6 (3). Dimitrov, ranked No. 268, was the No. 2 seed in the qualifying draw.

Also yesterday, Tsung-Hua Yang of Taipei upset the No. 3 seed Jesse Levine, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (6).

WATER POLO

UH OPENS ON ROAD

Fourth-ranked Hawai'i opens its water polo season tomorrow against 15th-ranked UC Santa Barbara in the Northern California Invitational hosted by Cal.

The Rainbow Wahine also play Pacific tomorrow, then take on No. 14 UC Davis and Cal State East Bay Sunday. UH will then face No. 5 California in its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener on Tuesday.

Hawai'i and Cal shared fourth in the MPSF preseason poll, behind Stanford, USC and UCLA — the top three teams in the country.

The Rainbow Wahine return five of seven starters from last season, including third-team All-American Leonie Van Der Molen, honorable mention All-American Dagmar Genee, and goalie Serena Bredin. UH also added high school All-American Monique Wilson.