After three years of ups, downs and drained finances, Kaimuki's Chris Lam called it quits in professional tennis Tuesday after losing in the first round of the $15,000 Freight Solution Providers Futures in Shingle Springs, Calif.

Lam fell to American John Nicholas Andrews, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, in singles, then to Stefan Borg and Antonio Ruiz-Rosales, 6-3, 6-2, in doubles with Chris Wettengel. Lam announced earlier in the week that, after much agonizing and thought, it would be his last event.

Lam's highlights since his decision to become a touring pro in 2006 include winning two doubles titles and rising as high as No. 580 in the world in singles. That ranking, which made him the 44th-best American player at the time, came last November after he reached the semifinals and quarterfinals at Hawai'i's Pro Circuit events.

"You always feel you want or could have accomplished more, but I can look back on my career and have some highlights I'm proud of," said the 25-year-old Lam. "I won't feel like a failure. There are a lot of good things I'll take from it. If you'd told me when I first started I'd get to 580 I'd have been pretty happy. But when you get there, you feel like you should get to 300. You always feel like you can do more. I'm happy with the effort though."

But the cash and comebacks ran out. A series of injuries and quick losses on the USTA Pro Circuit dropped him to 750th this week and he was running out of time and money. Lam, who had equipment and personal sponsorships, won a little more than $15,000 in prize money in his short career.

"I was stressed out about money," Lam said. "When things didn't go so well I got to a point where I'd used up all my funds and had less than $100 left in my travel fund. It was too stressful. I was always worrying about money and not enjoying being out there."

Lam, who was homeschooled, was Hawai'i's top-ranked junior and graduated from UCLA, where he was part of the Bruins' 2005 NCAA championship team and ranked as high as 19th.

He will return to Hawai'i next month and help coach his brother, Carter, who is one of Hawai'i's top-ranked juniors. He also wants to teach tennis while he takes enough time "to make the right decision" for his future. He did not rule out pursuing his post-graduate plans at the University of Hawai'i, and assisting coach John Nelson.

"I haven't asked John directly yet, but he's the first person I'd ask if that's what I decide I want to do," Lam said. "I know him and I like living in Hawai'i so it would be very convenient and nice if it worked out."