UNLV Hits the Daily Double With Play of Australian Smith

Not known nationally as a tennis powerhouse, Nevada Las Vegas looked internationally to make a statement and launch itself atop the college ranks.

Behind the play of two Australians, the Rebels won both the men’s singles and doubles NCAA championships with a sweep of USC on Sunday at the L.A. Tennis center.

“This definitely puts us on the map,” UNLV Coach Larry Easley said. “I have had a lot of successes for over 30 years and, boy, does this top it all.”

In the singles final, UNLV’s Luke Smith, a junior from Adelaide, Australia, defeated Trojan junior George Bastl, 6-4, 6-3, to become the first unseeded player to take the championship since Stanford’s Jared Palmer in 1991, and lowest-ranked player to to win the title.

Smith, who didn’t lose a singles’ set the entire tournament, was ranked 65th nationally on April 21. Bastl was No. 20.

“This was very unexpected, like I’ve been saying all week,” Smith said. “My intention coming in was to win doubles and compete in singles. I felt that if we played well, we could win [doubles]. It’s been fantastic and obviously the best week of my life.”

Fatigue may have been a factor with Bastl’s game. He was coming off six matches in two days.

“I was a little bit tired and didn’t play my best tennis, but Luke played very well and deserved to win,” Bastl said. “Under the circumstances--[with] wind and a fast court--he is the best player I’ve played all season.”

Smith and Bastl also played in the doubles championship, the first time both singles finalists faced each other in doubles final since 1966, when UCLA’s Charlie Pasarell twice defeated Stan Smith of USC.

Bastl, a native of Villare, Switzerland, and junior Kyle Spencer, the only American-born finalist, from Rancho Palos Verdes, lost to Smith and Tim Blenkiron, a 6-foot-5 senior from Woodside, Australia, for a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Smith is the second player since 1977 to win singles and doubles titles at the same time and the 38th overall.

Alex O’Brien of Stanford completed the double in 1992.

“It was pretty disappointing [losing both],” Bastl said. “I felt throughout the week that I won some good matches to get to the final and beat some good players. So I had some success. The overall picture isn’t pretty good, but Sunday wasn’t my best day and I’ll have to live with it.”

With the victories, Blenkiron and Smith automatically qualify for first-round play at the U.S. Open in doubles, and Smith again in singles.