Steady Spaniard Advances Into Acura Classic Third Round

Spain’s Conchita Martinez used her patience and a steady baseline game to eliminate Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-4 in a second-round Acura Classic match on Wednesday morning.

On a warm, breezy day on Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Martinez built a 5-3 lead in the first set. She began the ninth game with a double fault, but won the next four points to put away the set 6-3.

Martinez was successful in mixing her shots throughout the one-hour and 21-minute match. She used slice and topspin on her baseline strokes, while mixing in her serves in the 80 to 90 mph range to keep the Czech off balance.

At 2-2 in the second set, Martinez broke Benesova’s serve, which would give her the advantage for the rest of the match.

Martinez went on to serve for the match at 5-4. She began the game with a forehand crosscourt winner and followed that with a backhand slice error into the net.

At 15-15, Benesova hit a backhand return long and a forehand service return long to make the score 40-15.

The match ended as Benesova sailed another forehand past the baseline.

• This was the first meeting between Martinez and Benesova.
• Martinez advances to the third round where she will meet in the winner of tonight’s Lindsay Davenport / Karolina Sprem match.
• Martinez improves her 2004 match record to 21-14.
• Martinez is ranked 39 in the world.
• Martinez is making her 14th Acura Classic appearance. She captured the title here in 1995 when she defeated Lisa Raymond in the final.
• Martinez improves to 27-11 at the Acura Classic.
• Benesova was playing in her first Acura Classic.
• Benesova is ranked 56 in the world.
• Benesova’s 2004 match record is now 38-18.
• In her first round match, Benesova defeated 16th seeded Silvia Farina Elia of Italy, 6-4, 6-2.
  

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