Smith advanced to his first career Challenger final Friday, rallying to beat sixth-seeded Sergei Bubka 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Winnetka (Ill.) Challenger.
He faces seventh-seeded Ricardas Berankis for the singles championship Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Smith will then play for a potential title sweep as he and John Peers vie for their fourth Challenger doubles title of the year against Devin Britton and Jeff Dadamo.
Smith and Peers have had a relatively easy week in doubles. The No. 1 seeds have reached the final with their opponents pulling out of the tournament on two days and breezed through their only played match in 35 minutes.
When Smith is in a singles final, the odds are always good that he's been in doubles contention too. Smith's two career pro singles titles came on days when he also won the doubles title (2011 Tulsa Futures, 2012 Vero Beach Futures). He has won five doubles titles this year, including one with Britton, his opponent.
Rhyne Williams and Tennys Sandgren nearly joined Smith in the doubles final. They led early but lost to Dadamo and Britton 4-6, 6-1, [11-9] in their semifinal match Saturday.
Williams and Sandgren have a busy month ahead on the USTA Pro Circuit with Challenger stops in Binghamton, N.Y., and Lexington, Ky. Smith starts World TeamTennis with the Orange County Breakers on Monday.
