Andy Bray reasserted himself as the main man in local tennis as he won the final event on the domestic calendar, defeating joint number one Gavin Manders 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday.

Bray fought back in the third and deciding set of the Coral Beach and Tennis Club Invitational Tournament to secure the men's singles title and the number one spot when the next rankings are released.

However, he was made to sweat from the outset and until his foe began cramping, the match was delicately poised with Manders 2-1 up in the deciding set.

Bray forced the limping Manders into long rallies and hit plenty of groundstrokes from side-to-side.

The champion managed to hold serve and break Manders' next service game before taking the final three games of the match.

Bray acknowledged Manders' cramp was a determining factor in the match and said the victory was one he would savour.

"I'm glad I won because it was a very hard-fought match," said Bray. "He started off in his usual accurate manner, not missing a lot while it took a while for me to get into the match.

"I calmed down a bit as the match went on and got myself back into it and started making more shots.

"I got off to a good start in the second set and as the match went along I saw him beginning to cramp and when things like that begin to happen you gain confidence knowing your opponent isn't quite at his best.

"The rankings aren't important to me but I did want to win the tournament and end the season on a high. It's a great tournament to play in and being the last one of the season, it felt great."

The 22-year-old Manders joined Bray at the top of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association rankings when they were last released.

He won the Argus and WER Joell tournaments this year, beating Bray and climbing from third to join his rival at the top of the pile.