British number three Martin Lee believes his total commitment to his career has earned him a place in the world's top 100.

The 23-year-old, from East Preston, reached his first ATP Tour final at the Miller Lite Hall of Fame event.

Despite a 6-1 6-4 defeat by South Africa's Neville Godwin, his progress saw him move to 95th in the ATP Champions Race.

Lee is convinced he has the ability to reach even greater heights, something he showed he is capable of doing by beating two top 100 players on his way to yesterday's final.

Lee, who earned a career-best prize money of 31,500 dollars, said: "I have a 100 per cent commitment to tennis. I know I am doing the right things at the moment to make it.

"I've got the base and I know what I have to do."

He gives a lot of the credit to coach Dave Sammel, whose training squad he joined in January, and adviser Gloria Budd who has helped him calm down and stay focused.

"I used to break 20 rackets a year but I haven't broken one this year and my fines have gone down too," he admitted.

"When I used to play matches I would think about the next match and other things instead of concentrating on the points one at a time. That's the main thing that has helped."

Sammel agrees that his man has finally begun to realise some of the promise he exhibited as a youngster, holding the world junior number one spot for two months in 1996.

He said: "Gloria has been the catalyst to giving him some techniques and I was able to translate that stuff into tennis.

"I also had some firm ideas about how he needs to play the game. He has got a lot more consistent. He's a fantastic athlete but some of his techniques left a little to be desired."

Lee added: "Neville played really well the whole match and he didn't give me much of an opportunity.

"He kept coming in with the slice and it's very tough to pass."

Both men were vying for their first title and Godwin, a runner-up in the event in 1998, was delighted with his victory.

"I'm just thrilled with my first title. Win number one is beautiful," said Godwin, who lost to India's Leander Paes in the same tournament in his only other ATP final.