Martinez wins fifth career title

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Martinez wins fifth career title

World number 32 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez has won her fifth career singles title after edging Galina Voskoboeva in two sets 7-6, 7-6 in the Seoul last term. This has also been Spaniard’s first success of the season, one which has not propelled her higher in the rankings, though.

Martinez needed exactl a couple of hours to beat the Kzak who managed to stick by the sixth favorite in both sets. Galina pushed both terms into tie break but she lost them pretty easily. The two players exchanged a couple of breaks in the first term but it was the Spaniard to keep her sheet clean throughout the entire first breaker she won at zero.

As for the second set, it saw the two win a couple of more breaks apiece as Martinez was forced to fight for the victory in the tie break. Similar to the first set breaker, it saw the Kazak both lose her pace and concede it at two. Martinez thus grabbed a hard fought victory to become the first Spaniard to win a hard court title since 2006.

“I felt very calm in the tie-breaks. That was the key for me. I felt I played well the whole match. I like coming to net and I think it also makes my opponents uncomfortable, so it works well. But Galina played well – this was my toughest match of the week. I had to fight until the end,” said Martinez after the win.

The 29 year old won 54 percent of first serve points, hit three aces, committed five double faults and converted three out of five break points. She also won 63 percent of service points and 41 of return ones, compared to Voskoboeva’s 40 first serve percentage, four double faults, two aces and a poor 27 return percentage.

Martinez is to pocket a $37,000 check and receive 280 WTA points, while the Kazak will bank $19,000 and 200 points. Neither of the two lined up to the upcoming Tokyo event which takes place between September 25 and October 1.

Seoul Prize Money and points:

Winner – $37,000 and 280 points WTA

Runner up – $19,000 and 200 points WTA

Semi finalist – $10,200 and 130 points WTA

Quarter finalist – $5,340 and 70 points WTA

Second round – $2,950 and 30 points WTA

First round – $1,725 and one point WTA

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