US-based Erica Adams overturned defending champion Velma Matiengo of Puerto Rico also in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 to take the women’s title on Sunday, the final day for the 2008 BVI Open Tournament at the Tortola Sports Club in Pasea. (Photo by Gordon French)

In cool afternoon conditions last Sunday at the Tortola Sports Club in Pasea, Rios took advantage of a stumped Parrales, who had earlier survived two blistering matches covering a combined seven hours in the semi and quarter finals.

“I think I had a really good game. My serve was really good and I had a lot of chances to break his serve and I came up with a lot of key points in the match which was the difference,” said Rios who played his last tournament in 2006.

“I knew that he was a tough opponent; he has a great track record. He is active playing matches and tournaments…I was expecting much, I just wanted to have fun and play a good match.I know he was tired and I came out in front and I served well,” Rios related.

Parrales who was coming off tours in Asia said that the two previous matches took its toll.

“First of all I give full credit to Rios but obviously I played very tough matches. Its the luck of the draw. I got a little tougher draw and I kind of run out of gas in the finals a little bit,” Parrales lamented.

He plans to avenge his loss when he travels to Mexico and the Dominican Republic later this week.

On the women’s side, Adams used her experience against defending champ, Matiengo to cruise to an easy win in sweltering heat on Sunday in the finals of the women’s single.

The Atlanta , Georgia based player who will be 40 on her next birthday is playing some of her best tennis which saw her winning the Chrysler Cup in St. Thomas earlier this year.

“I am not as strong, as fit as fast as I once was, but since I have been training so many really talented players. It has helped me break down how the game works from so many different angles. I am at a point in my life and career where I have great self assurance because I have knowledge of the game so the intelligence and mental toughness is more interesting to me than being fast, young and fresh,” said Adams .

Adams who has a decade of coaching under her belt said that she expected an easy match against Matiengo since she had easily beaten the player who had beaten Matiengo at the Chrysler Cup. “I had no reason to feel it would have been an overwhelming challenge for me. The challenge is always to follow my game plan and not overextend myself with how much energy I have available and challenge myself to execute,” Adams related.

Following the match and a few tears, Matiengo said she can make no excuses for the loss.

“I couldn’t find my rhythm in the match but she played pretty well. She kept hitting slice balls, curve balls and was getting the drop shots. She looks like the experience player she is. The sun just got in my eye a bit and I couldn’t serve as good as I normally serve, but that’s no excuse because she got to serve from the same side of the court,” Matiengo stated.

Following the women’s final, Adams showing no sign of exhaustion, teamed with St. Thomas ’ George Lewis to win the Mixed Doubles title against the Grenadian pair of Jimmy Adams and Sylma Phillips, 6-3, 4-6 and 6-4.

In the men’s “B” Singles finals, Herold Francis beat Hermit Dannis in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 in an all USVI encounter.

Greg James and Chris Allen defeated Kevin Mota and Robert Nusher, 6-4 and 7-5 for the Men’s Doubles title

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