yesterday's doubles final at the XL Bermuda Open.

Only by teaming up did they get it.

Hard-luck losers in the singles side of the $125,000 tournament, the pair produced a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 decision over the Argentine duo of Lucas Arnold and Daniel Orsenic before an appreciative crowd at Coral Beach's centre court.

Frana, awesome throughout the week, was coming off a semi-final loss for the second straight year on Saturday; Knowles, a doubles winner here four years ago, was routed in the first round.

In both cases, Sargis Sargsian was the culprit -- but that was secondary.

"I came here with high hopes,'' admitted Knowles. "I lost to a great player but I didn't play a very good match, so this was a nice way to prolong my stay and redeem myself.'' Knowles and Frana have only teamed up once before -- at a grass tournament no less -- but it stuck in Knowles' memory when he called the tournament office a couple of weeks ago asking if their was a doubles partner available.

Informed that Frana was in a similar position, Knowles jumped at the chance.

"I liked his style of play and I thought we gelled well as a team,'' said Knowles. "He's a great partner.'' Normally partnered with Canada's Daniel Nestor, the Bahamian is ranked fifth in the world in doubles. Frana -- like Nestor a left-hander -- and Knowles were seeded third for the Bermuda Open and hooked up for three earlier wins, including a semi-final triumph over the second-seeds, Sandon Stolle and Cyril Suk.

The two rolled to victory in the first set yesterday. But when Arnold drilled a return between the two at the net, it allowed he and Orsenic to break Frana's service for a 4-2 lead in the second. Knowles' serve, however, tied the set at 4-4 and then forced the tiebreaker.

When Frana slammed a return into the net with Knowles serving at 2-3, Arnold and Orsenic got the break they needed, taking the next three points to force a third set.

The difference there came with Frana and Knowles leading 4-3 and Orsenic serving. He drifted a sure baseline winner long to fall behind 0-30 and it was 30-40 when he double-faulted to give away the match.

Knowles and Frana were the more aggressive and, as he was throughout, Knowles was unbeatable at the net. "That's definitely the strongest part of my doubles game,'' he said. "I like to play at the net and wreak havoc on the opposition.'' THE EYES HAVE IT -- Sargis Sargsian stares down this shot but couldn't beat Johan Van Herck in the XL Bermuda Open final. He lost 1-6, 6-4, 0-6 yesterday.