A little bit of history has slipped through the finger tips of Marina Erakovic at Wimbledon. After a gallant fight Erakovic has lost in the third round of the main draw 4-6 6-4 6-4 by Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn.  Erakovic won the first set in 53 minutes but her unforced error rate skyrocketed and Tanasugarn took advantage. She was aiming to become the first kiwi woman through to the last 16 since 1959.  Erakovic’s ranking will go well inside the top-50 as a result of her play at Wimbledon while she collects 28 thousand pounds for her week’s work. 

Kiwi tennis No1 Marina Erakovic has advanced to round three at the All England club after beating German Julia Goerges 6-2 7-6 in 80 minutes. Erakovic cruised through the opening set in just 25 minutes and while the German upped her game in the second. The 20-year-old New Zealander came up with some big shots in the tie break to finish her off. Watched by a big crowd of New Zealanders, including half of the touring Black Caps. She says there were great emotions, excitement, relief and it is a great feeling, considering it was a windy London day and Goerges is a hot and cold type opponent. Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn awaits Erakovic in the next round after the world number 60 beat 13th seed Vera Zvonareva in three sets to advance. 

Kiwi tennis No1 Marina Erakovic has won through to the second round at Wimbledon, beating her doubles partner and last year’s quarter-finalist, Michaella Krajicek from the Netherlands, 7-6 7-6 in just under two hours.  Erakovic, 20 will next play world No102, German Julia Goerges who upset Katarina Srebotnik in a marathon three set battle, winning 16-14 in the third set.

New Zealand will be represented in tennis at this year’s Olympics. Marina Erakovic’s nomination has been ratified by the NZOC. She has had a very encouraging year, rising from 153 to 54 in the world rankings with an improvement expected later today. While Erakovic has not met the top 16 selection criteria, the NZOC believes she is capable of such a finish at Beijing.

New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic has been beaten 6-3, 6-2 by Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko in the semifinals of the WTA’s Edgbaston Tennis Classic in Birmingham.
It is her third semifinal finish of the year. Earlier in the quarter-finals Earkovic had defeated the other Bondarenko sister, Alona, the world No27 in straight sets to make the last eight. 
It is expected that Erakovic will rise from her current ranking of 64 to just outside of the top-50 as a result of her top performances in England.

Marina Erakovic continued with her winning ways, with a 6-3 6-0 win over world ranked #33 Sania Mirza of India, at the US$200,000 DFS Classic  in Birminghman.  Marina now meets Yaroslava Shedova of Russia in the third round. The match is scheduled for 11am today (UK time). Nicole Vaidisovahe from the Czech Republic is the highest seed remaning in the tournament.

New Zealand tennis No1 Marina Erakovic is into the second round of the WTA tour’s Edgbaston Classic in Birmingham. She has comfortably beaten Canadian Stephanie Dubois 6-4, 6-4 in the grass court tournament. Erakovic now plays Indian Sania Mirza for a place in the third round at the Wimbledon build-up event.