Werdel Witmeyer Injured, Frustrated and Out : Tennis: France’s Testud runs her around in 6-2, 6-2 victory. Martinez, Pierce, Raymond also advance.

Down to one sound leg, really, there was a single strategy remaining for Marianne Werdel Witmeyer in her quarterfinal match against France’s Sandrine Testud on Friday at La Costa.

“Hit a winner as early as I could, so I didn’t have to run,” Werdel Witmeyer said.

Testud foiled those plans by keeping the ball in play and moved into the semifinals of the Toshiba Tennis Classic, taking the final 12 points and defeating 11th-seeded Werdel Witmeyer, 6-2, 6-2.

Two of the other quarterfinal matches also were one-sided, with No. 3 Mary Pierce of France defeating Rachel McQuillan of Australia, 6-2, 6-4, and No. 2 Conchita Martinez of Spain defeating Asa Carlsson of Sweden, 6-0, 6-1, in 47 minutes.

In today’s semifinals, Pierce plays Martinez, and Testud meets No. 9 Lisa Raymond, who defeated No. 16 Gigi Fernandez, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, in the night match.

Werdel Witmeyer, coming off a victory over No. 2-ranked Arantxa Sanchez Vicario on Thursday, was hampered by a strained muscle in her left leg, which left her relatively immobile and distressed.

“It should probably be Webster’s definition for disappointment and frustration ,” said Werdel Witmeyer, who lives in Oceanside. “It doesn’t get any more frustrating.”

The ailment is related to a previous lower back injury, which she initially suffered at Eastbourne, England, in June. She briefly considered defaulting Friday’s match.

“You definitely think about it,” she said. “There’s a slim chance of winning. But it’s tough to default a match and to say, ‘I quit.’ Especially in front of friends and family.”

Testud, 23, who is unseeded and ranked 62nd, did not believe her victory was tainted because of an injured opponent.

“For me, I don’t care,” she said. “I didn’t stay three hours on the court. So maybe I feel better tomorrow.”

Martinez didn’t even have to stay on the court for one hour. She took the first eight games before losing her only game of the match.

“You cannot play beautiful for the people when there are so many errors,” Martinez said.

Pierce, as always, was strong from the baseline, hitting 24 winners to McQuillan’s eight.

Pierce has played Martinez twice this year, winning, 6-3, 6-1, in the Australian Open and losing, 6-3, 6-3, on clay in the Italian Open.