Trey Phillips and Anders Eriksson are an odd-couple team, but when they hit the tennis court everything comes together.

It's been that way for 13 years.

In 1993, while at the University of Texas, the pair spent time at No. 1 nationally in doubles and finished the year being named All-Americans.

Phillips and Eriksson are seeded fourth for the Kailua Racquet Club Men's Night Doubles, which starts tonight with qualifying matches.

Phillips is 6 foot 6 and from Austin, Texas.

Eriksson is 5-10 and from Stockholm, Sweden.

"I'm the point guard," Eriksson said.

Phillips is the serve and volleyer, and Eriksson enjoys playing from the baseline. Their styles complement each other well.

"The key is to pick up areas your partner is weaker at," Phillips said. "He can put balls in play and I can put balls away."

Added Eriksson: "Trey is a power player with impressive serves and very aggressive style of play.

"I find openings, use more angles and stuff like that. We compensate for each other very well. It's helpful when we play together."

As for their on-court demeanor, Eriksson said: "He's the loud mouth of the South and I'm the silent Swede."

Phillips, 33, and Eriksson, 37, found out about the tournament through a player who splits time living in Kailua and Austin.

"To be able to do this 13 years later is a hoot for us," Phillips said. "We're not at the same level but we still feel like we're in college together."

Phillips played on the ATP Tour in singles and doubles from 1995 to 2000.

"When you first stop playing professionally, you want to detox," Phillips said. "I spent two years not wanting to play again. Anders got me back into it."

Eriksson, the director of tennis at Onion Creek Club in Austin, is a four-time USTA Men's 30 National Hardcourt singles champion (2002, '04-'06). He also won a USTA Men's 35 Claycourt doubles title in 2004.

He is No. 3 in the Men's 35 USTA national rankings.

Phillips, who teaches at the Austin Tennis Academy and Lakecliff Racquet Club, doesn't play as much as Eriksson these days.

"It's our biggest hobby. It's what I do for exercise," Phillips said.

Former Santa Clara teammates Michael Bruggemann and Erich Chen, the defending champions and winners two of the past three years, are the top seeds for the tournament.

The top eight seeded teams will open play next week. The other 35 teams will try to advance past the first week.

"I don't really know what to expect. I never played this tournament before," Eriksson said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.