TENNIS WOMEN AT LA COSTA : Capriati Has No Trouble With Martinez

Polite applause followed Jennifer Capriati’s uninspired 6-3, 6-2 victory Sunday against Spain’s Conchita Martinez in the championship of the $225,000 Mazda Tennis Classic.

A short, on-court interview with Chris Evert after the match drew louder acclaim from the sell-out crowd of 5,200 at the La Costa Resort & Spa.

Those who came to see Capriati defend her San Diego title may have remembered her three-set victory won in a tiebreaker against Monica Seles last year.

While it may have been unreasonable to expect a replay of a match of that caliber, they had to wonder if Evert couldn’t have been better competition.

The effect of Capriati’s victory Sunday was lessened by the fact that third-seeded Martinez, 20, was playing hurt.

Since the Australian Open in January, Martinez, ranked eighth, has played with tendinitis that began in her right shoulder and has moved to her elbow.

The only time the arm hasn’t hurt was during the Olympics, where she won a silver medal in doubles and where she changed her forehand grip.

“It was pretty bad today,” Martinez said. “Especially on the serve. And my forehand is not the same. It’s tough to hit the ball.”

In the San Diego semifinals a year ago, Martinez lost to Capriati, 6-4, 6-0, and complained of a foot injury.

But this loss was more difficult because she has played well this year. Martinez won the Austrian Open in July and finished second to Seles, Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini in her last three tournaments.

“It’s very disappointing,” she said. “I play some very good tennis (this year), maybe my best. I can’t be 100% because of my arm.”

Capriati was aware of Martinez’s injury, but she didn’t believe it affected the match.

“I thought I played well,” said Capriati, who won her second title in a row for the first time--the other being a gold medal at Barcelona. “I know she wasn’t totally on her game, because of her shoulder or whatever, but. . . .”

But it was good enough to win $45,000 and a bright yellow Miata. Martinez won $22,500.