So you think Treat Conrad Huey's name is unusual? That's just the beginning.
The tennis professional's playing style, citizenship and educational background also are atypical. Plus, he's left-handed.
Maybe it's not so surprising, then, that Huey on Wednesday pulled off the latest and biggest upset of the Natomas/USTA $50,000 Men's Professional Tournament at the Natomas Racquet Club.
A qualifier ranked No. 933 in the world, Huey knocked off third-seeded Kevin Kim, a Newport Coast resident ranked No. 101, 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the second round. Huey won the last five points of the tiebreaker.
"The way I play is a lot different from other players," said the 5-foot-10 Huey, who entered the tournament with career earnings of $14,087 to Kim's $1.4 million. "I use slice a lot, I'm quick, and I run down a lot of balls. I frustrate a lot of players. When I play well, I can compete with anyone."
Kim's exit leaves only three seeds - No. 1 Robert Kendrick, No. 4 Jesse Levine and No. 6 Santiago Giraldo - in the draw halfway through the second round.
Giraldo, ranked No. 114 in the world and first in Colombia, eliminated former top-20 player Vince Spadea 6-1, 7-6 (7).
Wild card Ryan Harrison, a 17-year-old phenom born in Shreveport, La., advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Michael Lammer of Switzerland. Harrison has won seven consecutive matches and 11 of his last 12.
Huey, a 24-year-old Washington, D.C., native who pronounces his first name "Tret," is named after actor Treat Williams. Huey received the middle name Conrad so his initials, TCH, would be the same as both of his grandfathers'.
Huey has played mostly doubles, winning the title in a $15,000 tournament at the Natomas Racquet Club in June, since graduating from prestigious Virginia with a degree in foreign affairs last year.
He plays Davis Cup for the Philippines and has dual citizenship because his mother is a Filipina.
"(Davis Cup) is one of the reasons I'm playing well out here," Huey said. "I love it."
Hall of Fame - Six charter members were inducted into the Sacramento Tennis Hall of Fame on Wednesday night.
Honored were local club founders and owners Bill and Margie Campbell, world-ranked senior player and former teaching pro Martha Downing, ex-American River College coach Ralph Freund, longtime Capitals owner Lonnie Nielson and (posthumously) former pro player, teaching pro and Sacramento State coach Jack Jossi.
Call The Bee's Paul Bauman, (916) 326-5515.
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