Martinez Scores Solid Victory Over Loit

Spain’s Conchita Martinez used her solid baseline game to score an impressive 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday morning over Emilie Loit of France in a first-round Acura Classic match at the La Costa Resort and Spa.

Martinez opened the match by taking a commanding 5-0 lead, but the score did not indicate the closeness of the match as four of the games went to deuce multiple times.

Playing her typical baseline game, Martinez patiently waited for Loit to commit and error while occasionally hitting winners. It was rare when Martinez ventured to the net, but when she did, she was away her volleys for winners.

Very little went wrong for Martinez as she capped the 48-minute first set by showing that a player doesn’t always have to hit the ball with power to win. The Spaniard executed a perfectly placed 81 mph serve for an ace on set point to win the set 6-1.

In fact, about the only thing that did go wrong for Martinez in the first set was when her WTA Tour patch came loose from her shirt and she gave it to one of the ballkids.

In the second set, Martinez, who maintains a part-time residence in San Diego County, continued to dominate as she broke Loit in a 12-point game to open the set.

Loit, who failed to hold serve in the second set, managed to break Martinez’ serve twice, but was unable to do little more. At 5-2, Martinez went on to easily serve out the one-hour and 33-minute match.

• Martinez advances to a second round meeting against Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic.
• Martinez is now 2-2 in career head-to-head meetings with Loit.
• Martinez improves her 2004 match record to 20-14.
• Martinez is making her 14th Acura Classic appearance. She won the tournament here in 1995 defeating Lisa Raymond in the final.
• Martinez improves her career record at the Acura Classic to 26-11.
• Martinez is ranked 39 in the world.
• Loit was making her Acura Classic debut.
• Loit is ranked 36 in the world.
• Loit’s 2004 match record falls to 29-16.
  

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