Conchita Martinez thwarted the run of French qualifier Amelie Mauresmo to end an 18-month title drought and claim the German Open championship in Berlin with a 6-4, 6-4 victory. The win earned Martinez $150,000, with $50,000 going to 18-year-old Mauresmo.

The French girl, who this week became the lowest-ranked player to beat two of the top three players, Lindsay Davenport and Jana Novotna, was unable to maintain the standard with which she began the match, and it was her numerous unforced errors that led to her eventual downfall.

Mauresmo gained the first break of the match in the third game, taking the ball early on the baseline and forcing the surprised Spaniard to send a forehand long. But apart from that one lapse, seventh-seeded Martinez was solid on her serve in the first set, dropping just one further point.

While Mauresmo played the more attractive tennis, she was increasingly unable to maintain the long rallies against her more experienced opponent, and Martinez was able to level at 4-4 with a backhand pass. Mauresmo struggled again in her next service game, holding off three break points before she netted a forehand to gift Martinez the set.

Mauresmo again made the more positive start in the second set, breaking in the opening game with a backhand volley, but she continued to have difficulty holding her own serve. She survived two break points to lead 2-0, but was broken for 2-2 when a drop volley fell short and into the net.

Martinez, who troubled Mauresmo with her heavy topspin and high bounces, held two more break points for a 5-3 lead, and though Mauresmo demonstrated her versatility by holding her off with a backhand volley and a winning forehand, she played a disastrous final game, committing four unforced errors to give Martinez victory.

"It's a great feeling to win again," said Martinez. "Last year was a tough one for me, but I kept fighting and kept training. Now I'm really looking forward to the French Open.