Martinez makes final as Linetskaya quits with heat exhaustion

PATTAYA, Thailand -- Conchita Martinez reached the Volvo Open final when Russia's Evgenia Linetskaya quit during the second set Saturday because of heat exhaustion.

Martinez, seeded third, will play Anna Lena Groenefeld of Germany for the title Sunday. Linetskaya retired with her Spanish opponent ahead 6-2, 4-0 on a day when temperatures hit 90 degrees and the humidity was 70 percent.

Groenefeld, seeded seventh, overcame a shaky start to defeat eighth-seeded Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Martinez used a variety of shots to counter her 18-year-old opponent's powerful groundstrokes, forcing a string of unforced errors.

"I tried to play my game," Martinez said. "She hit the balls hard so I tried to use my forehand, spins, slices and high balls."

With Martinez leading 1-0 in the second set, Linetskaya called for a trainer and went to the locker room for treatment. The Russian returned to the court and quickly lost the next three games before retiring.

"I made her run a lot," Martinez said. "She had to run for the balls. I think that was a lot of her problem."