There are so many Hawai'i guys in this week's Oceanic Time Warner Cable Honolulu Futures it might look more like a sectional than a $15,000 USTA Pro Circuit event at the University of Hawai'i Tennis Complex.

Chris Lam and Ikaika Jobe got into the main draw, which begins today, based on their ATP ranking, with Lam seeded sixth. Dennis Lajola and Brad Lum-Tucker received wild cards.

Rainbows Sascha Heinemann and Andreas Weber, both from Germany, and former Hawai'i Pacific All-American Jan-Axel Tribler, from Denmark, all advanced into the main draw through the qualifier the past three days.

Heinemann and Lajola play each other In the opening round, as do Weber and Lum-Tucker.

There are six Hawai'i teams in the 16-team doubles draw, with Lum-Tucker and Jobe seeded fourth and Lam playing with his 15-year-old brother, Carter.

Talent, timing and maybe something in the shave ice have combined to make Hawai'i athletes major players in the two Hawai'i circuit events this year. The USTA Pro Circuit has 94 events in 2007, with purses ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from 74 countries competed for $3.2 million and world ranking points. To have 12 tennis players from Hawai'i in a pro event is mind-boggling, but apparently part of the plan.

"Originally when we talked about doing the Honolulu Futures five years ago, one of the main reasons was to get more opportunities for the local guys to play," said Ron Romano, executive director of the USTA's Hawai'i Pacific Section.

Lam, 24, is ranked 633rd in the world and among the top 60 Americans, despite taking a few months off because of injury. He reached the semifinals at the Waikoloa Village Futures last week and feels like he let something get away.

"I felt like I had a chance in the semifinal to at least take it to a third set so I was a little disappointed in that," Lam said. "But I'm happy to be able to come back home for the last two tournaments and get to the semifinals in the first one. It's definitely a good thing for me, to get my confidence going and some momentum for this week."

The Hawai'i Pacific Section should find out this week if it will host the Fed Cup in February. The premier team competition in women's tennis was recently won by Russia for the third time in four years.

Romano also said the section is pursuing sponsorship for eight 2008 events, including the USTA Boys and Girls 18's National Open in February, Hawai'i's first ITF junior event and a revival of the Hawai'i Grand Prix series.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.