June 18, 1998

LEXINGTON, Kty. — The 1998 NCAA doubles champions, twins Bob and Mike Bryan of Stanford, have accepted a wild card to compete in the fourth annual $75,000 Fifth-Third Bank Tennis Championships on Aug. 3-9 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Stadium on the University of Kentucky campus.

Bob Bryan, a sophomore from Camarillo, Calif., became only the second player since 1977 to sweep the team, singles, and doubles titles. He won the singles title by defeating teammate Paul Goldstein in May. Earlier this week, both brothers announced that they are now joining the professional ranks.

Also on the pro circuit is the 1997 Fifth-Third Bank finalist Gianluca Pozzi of Italy. Pozzi defeated Carlos Rios in the first round of the Nottingham Open in Nottingham, England on Wednesday. The Fifth-Third Bank Tennis Championships is a USTA Circuit Challenger Series event that will feature a number of men’s and women’s tennis professionals from around the world.