Gavin Manders has joined Andy Bray at the top of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) latest tennis rankings when the latest rankings were released yesterday.

Manders, who won the Argus and W.E.R. Joell tennis tournaments, climbed two spots from third to join Bray at the head of the Men's single's list, which was released yesterday. Jensen Bascome fell to third position.

The rankings are calculated from results of the Elbow Beach Doubles, BLTA Vitamin Water, Pomander Gate Island Construction, ABTC Argus, BLTA WER Joell and PGTC Bacardi Seniors tournaments.

And with Manders, 22, dispatching all competitors on his way to the Argus and W.E.R. Joell titles, he catapulted himself level on points with rival Bray.

The tie for number one between Manders and Bray is the first time this has happened since 1976 when Allan Simmons and Bruce Sims shared the top spot, and unique in the era of the computerised rankings.

"I've been working towards getting to the top for some time now," said Manders.

"I feel that it is a privilege to be where I am.

"I was number three in the last rankings and to be honest I am surprised because the association took a tournament off the calendar which I thought killed off my chances.

"But I beat both Andy and Jensen in the Argus Open and then Bray in the W.E.R. Joell finals, which could have put me at the top.

"Between us three the competition is pretty tight. It has always been that way, more so with Andy.

"Jensen is coming off some injuries so that is a different scenario.

"When the tournaments schedule comes out I always look to see where I will play Andy because he has been the one I have been gunning for all this time.

"I got in a bike accident which had my ranking dip and Andy was taking over. But this is good to hear."