Martinez Overcomes Deficit To Win Toshiba Tennis Classic

Spain’s Conchita Martinez, ranked No. 4 in the world, breezed to an easy 6-2, 6-0 victory over Lisa Raymond Sunday in the finals of the Toshiba Tennis Classic in Carlsbad, Calif.

Martinez, seeded second, used brilliant passing shots and overcame numerous deficits in the first set to win her fifth WTA Tour title this season.

“I kept fighting and fighting and putting balls in,” said Martinez. “That’s how you get back in, not giving up.”

Raymond, ranked 22nd and seeded ninth, was done in by her shaky net play and 30 unforced errors in the first set.

By qualifying for the finals, Martinez will also move up to No. 3 ahead of France’s Mary Pierce in the world rankings when they are released today.

French Open champion Thomas Muster lost on clay for only the second time this year, falling in five sets to Spaniard Alberto Costa at the Austrian Open in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Costa, just 20, not only won 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-4, but did so in Muster’s home country.