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Second successive Eastbourne title for Rubin
Eastbourne, June 22: American Chanda Rubin beat Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-4 3-6 6-4 to win her second successive Eastbourne grasscourt tournament boosting her confidence before Wimbledon starts on Monday.
Eastbourne, June 22: American Chanda Rubin beat Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-4 3-6 6-4 to win her second successive Eastbourne grasscourt tournament boosting her confidence before Wimbledon starts on Monday.
The American second seed used her more aggressive all-court game to overcome the 1994 Wimbledon champion, who fought hard from the baseline. "This is the first time I've come back and defended a title and it feels good," Rubin, ranked seventh in the world, said. The start was delayed by two and a half hours after a bomb alert at Devonshire Park near the seafront in this southern English town. Police evacuated the grounds but found nothing suspicious. Both women have been enjoying a revival this season and both reached the quarter-finals of the French Open earlier this month. They had met 11 times before with 31-year-old Martinez winning nine. Martinez, world-ranked 19, received treatment at 1-0 40-15 down in the final set after falling and hurting her left wrist. She had had the wrist strapped following a similar fall during her semi-final against Silvia Farina Elia on Friday. She went on to lose the game.
Both women then needed off-court breaks after the next game and Martinez came back with her left thigh strapped. Her movement did not appear impeded, however, and she fought back to 4-2, using her trademark slice to great effect.
The doughty Spaniard then saved two match points at 5-2 as Rubin's concentration faltered. But the 27-year-old American closed out the match after two hours 17 minutes, racing to the net to put away a high forehand volley for victory.
Bureau Report
The American second seed used her more aggressive all-court game to overcome the 1994 Wimbledon champion, who fought hard from the baseline. "This is the first time I've come back and defended a title and it feels good," Rubin, ranked seventh in the world, said. The start was delayed by two and a half hours after a bomb alert at Devonshire Park near the seafront in this southern English town. Police evacuated the grounds but found nothing suspicious. Both women have been enjoying a revival this season and both reached the quarter-finals of the French Open earlier this month. They had met 11 times before with 31-year-old Martinez winning nine. Martinez, world-ranked 19, received treatment at 1-0 40-15 down in the final set after falling and hurting her left wrist. She had had the wrist strapped following a similar fall during her semi-final against Silvia Farina Elia on Friday. She went on to lose the game.
Both women then needed off-court breaks after the next game and Martinez came back with her left thigh strapped. Her movement did not appear impeded, however, and she fought back to 4-2, using her trademark slice to great effect.
The doughty Spaniard then saved two match points at 5-2 as Rubin's concentration faltered. But the 27-year-old American closed out the match after two hours 17 minutes, racing to the net to put away a high forehand volley for victory.
Bureau Report