Wimbledon acceptance lists were released today minus world number 1 Justine Henin but including Kiwi world number 80 Marina Erakovic! This signifies more “firsts” for Marina……her career high WTA Ranking this week of 80 (as of May 14 ) and her first time acceptance to Wimbledon Main Draw Singles.

Marina will pair up for the first time in a Grand Slam Main Draw Doubles with her 2004 US Open Junior titleholder partner, Michaella Krajicek of Holland. Marina’s WTA Doubles ranking of 177 and Michaella’s Doubles ranking of 43 may not combine to make the cut (usually combined rank cut of 150-170) BUT at Grand Slams players can use the “best of” rankings of either their singles or doubles to gain acceptance to the Doubles Draw. Therefore Erakovic and Krajicek will gain entry to both French Open and Wimbledon Doubles at minimum via their current singles rankings of 80 and 42 respectively

Prior to Wimbledon Marina will play 2 other WTA Tour grass court events. Grass is a comfortable surface for her and to which she feels her game well suited.

Week of June 9    Birmingham, England $US200,000 WTA Tier 3  Draw size 56Main/16qualis/32doubles : accepted singles main draw

Week of June 15  s’Hertogenbosch, Holland  $US175,000  WTA Tier 3  Draw size 32Main/16 Qualis/16Doubles: accepted singles qualifying and will play Doubles with Krajicek.  Close to Marina’s training base with coach Michael Schaepers in Amsterdam.

Marina today travels to Istanbul from her Amsterdam base to compete at the WTA event Istanbul, Turkey Tier 3 $US 200,000. She is directly accepted to the Main Draw of 30 Players which starts on Monday (May 19). It is just her second claycourt event this year and it leads into the French Open.

FRENCH OPEN: Begins as of Sunday May 25 and is Marina’s first Main Draw Grand Slams Singles and/or Doubles