Imani Phillips made good use of an eleventh-hour opportunity by winning the Friday Night Pickleball women’s doubles in Puerto Rico.

Bermuda’s No 1 female player had almost given up on playing in the tournament after failing to find a partner, but teamed up with Amanda Diaz Velazquez after her team-mate withdrew, with the duo defeating Fabiola Morales Colon and Ivana Correa Menendez 15-10, 13-15, 15-12, 15-10 in the final.

“I’m just so grateful for the results I keep receiving,” the 23-year-old told The Royal Gazette. “I think the more results I receive, I’ll become a better player.

“Puerto Rico was amazing because it’s an environment I'd never experienced before. I was playing pickleball and everyone spoke Spanish, and it was really cool to be somewhere completely different playing.”

Phillips was full of praise for her playing partner, who showed a lot of promise at a young age.

“The girl I played with was amazing, she’s a very talented 15-year-old and she really showed up,’’ Phillips said.

“The girls we played against were from a tennis background. I was able to bring out an element of more pickleball technique to it, whereas they played with a tennis technique, and I think that’s what led us to victory in the end.

“I really enjoyed playing pickleball in Puerto Rico and I’m going back to play again this year, that's one thing for sure.

“When I was out there I met with a trainer, who is a professional bodybuilder and also does martial arts. He gave me tips on how we can take my training to the next level, which was amazing.”

Next up for Phillips is the Association of Pickleball Players Cayman Islands Open, set for March 20 to 23, when she will be making a return to the venue where she won four medals as part of the Bermuda team at the Caribbean Pickleball Championships this month.

“Next up is the APP Cayman Islands Open, which is a Pro Pickleball Circuit tournament,’’ she said.

“Between now and then, I’ll be doing most of my training in Bermuda. I might head out and do a tournament, but in the next three weeks I plan to be in Bermuda.”