WAPIO, O'ahu  – University of Hawai'i men's tennis player Dennis Lajola defeated Pablo Martin-Adalia of Spain, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the main draw of the Honolulu Challenger, a USTA Pro Circuit Challenger event, Tuesday at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. 

 

 This is the furthest Lajola has advanced in a Challenger event. Lajola, a senior from Aiea, earned a wild card entry by winning the Hawaii Master's Open last October.

 

Fellow senior Rainbow Warrior, Jeremy Tweedt of Paris, France, lost to Ryler DeHeart, 6-3, 7-5. Tweedt earned a main draw wild card by winning the Honolulu Challenger Wild Card Tournament earlier this month. Last year's doubles champion, Deheart is a Pro Circuit standout who qualified for the 2010 ATP World Tour event in San Jose, Calif. and won three USTA Pro Circuit doubles titles last year. 

 

Lajola next plays on Thursday, taking on the winner of Wednesday's matchup between Jesse Witten and Daniel Yoo.