2-5 deficit in the deciding set to defeat second seed Donald Evans 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 in the men's final of the Coral Beach Club Invitational on Saturday.

With a large gallery on hand and Evans in devastating form throughout the week, Way appeared to be down for the count when he trailed 3-5 and was love-30 on his service.

But having never lost to Evans on clay, Way reached into his bag of miracles to pull out another victory.

Evans got off to an abysmal start, being broken in the first game of the match and before he caught himself he was down 0-3. He collected his only game of the first set in the fourth when he held at 30.

But he started to serve and volley more in the second set and attacked Way's second serve to run off five straight games before Way stopped the rot by winning two back. However, Evans quickly levelled the match at a set apiece.

The third and deciding set had all the drama imaginable with Evans making his move in the fifth game when he held to go up 3-2. He then broke Way for a 4-2 lead and when he held in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead, all hope for Way appeared to be lost.

But Way then held to take the score to 5-3 after being down love 30. Serving for the match, Evans was up 40-30 when Way surprised everyone by rushing the net after returning Evans' service, and his opponent netted the return.

"That was the turning point,'' recalled Way afterwards. "I can't put my finger on it, but after breaking him in the ninth game, I just felt the tide change and I went for it.'' Evans left the court and the grounds immediately after the loss.

Meanwhile, Marni Johnson captured the women's Open title when she took less than an hour to defeat Heidi Boyle 6-1, 6-2.

Johnson said she was seeing the ball well and was on top of her game.

"I was surprised that she didn't come to the net more because she is a good doubles player and without that I could read her game well,'' said the winner.

The American visitor realised early that her opponent played better when the ball was played with force, so she took something off the pace. And she continued to play to Boyle's backhand.

Gill Butterfield and Mike Curry defeated Boyle and Mark Cordeiro 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the mixed doubles final while Gretchen Devlin and Earl Leader captured the century mixed title with a 6-1, 6-2 win over former Bermuda champion Jan Quin and her American partner Dick Mount.

It was a fitting way to end a day of top flight tennis when Graham Boyle and Mark Cordeiro played the match of their lives to take the men's doubles crown from the favoured pair of Stuart Smith and Dean Mello in a two hour, three-set thriller, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.

MICHAEL WAY -- rallied from a 2-5 deficit in the final set.