Jan. 20, 2001

LAS VEGAS - Former UNLV national champion tennis player Luke Smith has reached the third round of the Australian Open in doubles play.

Smith, who won both the NCAA singles and doubles titles as a Rebel in 1997, has pulled off two upsets while playing with partner Paul Baccanello. The Australian duo, which earned a wild-card entry, took down 56th-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States, 6-4, 7-6, in the first round and then upset sixth-seeded Nicklas Kulti and Max Mirnyi, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4), late last night.

Smith and Baccanello are slated to face 12th-seeded Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyet in Saturday night's third round.

Smith, who is currently ranked 265 on the ATP Tour in doubles, also reached the third round of the Australian Open in 1998.