Chanda Rubin pledged to launch her best-ever Wimbledon bid after retaining the Hastings Direct title at Eastbourne with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory over Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez.

The 1994 Wimbledon champion Martinez, 31, may have to pull out of the event, where she is seeded 18.

She faces an x-ray on her damaged wrist before the first-round clash with Venezuelan qualifier Milagros Sequera.

American star Rubin, the world number seven, had to keep her cool through a two-and-a-half-hour delay caused by a bomb hoax call which forced officials to clear Eastbourne's Devonshire Park of 4,500 fans.

Then she had to battle against her own erratic serve as well as a string of frustrating interruptions while Martinez was treated for wrist and thigh problems.

"We did manage to get some rhythm in the match eventually, but I've certainly played better," she admitted.

"The great thing is that I've won this tournament again but it is Wimbledon where I really want to play well.

"My best result there is reaching the last 16 and I'll be disappointed if I don't do better than that this time.

"I think I have a shot if I play to my best. I always like to come over early and practice on the grass. I've been doing it for 10 years or so.

"And playing a final against someone who is so good on this surface like Conchita is a big benefit. I thought she played really well."

Rubin looks to have an easy run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals where she is seeded to meet Belgian star Kim Clijsters but then she will need to reprise her comeback form in beating Jennifer Capriati in the Eastbourne semi final yesterday.

The final lacked the same kind of quality and seven service-breaks in the 10-game opening set must have made fans wonder if there was ever going to be an end to the proceedings. Rubin eventually took the opener after being 4-2 down but Martinez levelled matters with a single break in the second.

The key moment in the decider came when the Spaniard fell on her already-strapped wrist at 0-1, 15-40 down and then went off for more treatment after the American opened a 3-0 lead. This time she returned with more strapping - on her right thigh.

By then Rubin had control of the match and despite a wobble when she should have served out at 5-3, she broke back in the very next game to clinch the £60,000 first prize.

Martinez said: "My wrist injury meant I was robbed of my top-spin backhand, one of my best shots. It might have been different if I'd had that. The thigh is not too bad and I'm not pessimistic about my chances of playing at Wimbledon, but we will have to wait and see what comes out of the x-ray."