1992

CAPRIATI DEFENDS HER TITLE

Second-seeded Jennifer Capriati successfully defended her championship as she defeated third-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain, 6-3, 6-2 to win the $225,000 Mazda Tennis Classic before a capacity crowd of 5,200 at the La Costa Resort & Spa.

Earlier in the month, Capriati won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona by defeating Steffi Graf in the final.

Capriati's victory at La Costa marked the first time she defended a singles title in her pro career. However, her title didn't come easy.

In the quarterfinals against Zina Garrison, Capriati fell behind 4-0 in the first set before recovering to win 6-4, 6-4.

In her semifinal match, Capriati was nearly ousted by Anke Huber of Germany before pulling out a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-1 victory.

	Gabriela Sabatini

The sixteen-year-old Capriati received a check for $45,000 and the keys to a yellow Mazda Miata.

Martinez, who received $22,500 for her second place finish, suffered from tendonitis in her right arm and shoulder during the week. She asked for a trainer in the first set and received treatment during the changeovers.

The tournament's top seed was Gabriela Sabatini, who was making her first appearance in San Diego County. During the tournament, she stayed in a beachfront home in Del Mar.

After defeating Kimberly Po 6-0, 6-0 in her opening round, Sabatini was upset in the quarterfinals by Leila Meskhi of the Republic of Georgia, 6-0, 6-3.

Meskhi was eliminated by Martinez in the semifinals, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. The victory marked the 200th career singles victory for Martinez.

In the doubles championship, the top-seeded team of Jana Novotna and Larissa Savchenko-Neiland defeated Martinez and Mercedes Paz, 6-1, 6-4.

Tournament Notes

	Jennifer Capriati, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, receives the key to the city at San Diego's Lindbergh Field. Tournament publicist, Rick Schloss is at left.

When Capriati arrived at San Diego's Lindbergh Field prior to the tournament, she received the gold key to San Diego from City Manager, Jack McGrory.

NBC television aired the finals and Capriati's semifinal match.

The tournament's longest match was a first round encounter between former champion Stephanie Rehe and Argentina's Mercedes Paz. Rehe won 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4 in three hours and 31 minutes despite hitting 29 double faults.

Due to the Olympics, the 1992 Mazda Tennis Classic, which had a 28 player draw, was moved to the week before the U.S. Open. Both semifinals were played during Saturday's day session to allow the players equal rest as Sunday's final began at 10:45 a.m. to give the players time to catch flights to New York for the U.S. Open.