Marina Erakovic’s has seen her WTA singles ranking improve up to 64 in the world improving her chances of gaining direct entry to the Beijing Olympics after she won the US$50,000 grass court tournament in England. Third-seeded Erakovic beat British player Anne Keothavong, the No 4 seed and world No 96, 6-4 6-2 in the final of the Surbiton tournament to pocket her ninth ITF singles title.

When she reached the second round of the French Open last month, it equated to a jump of about 10 spots on the world rankings from her pre-Open place of No 80. The International Tennis Federation is expected to advise national associations which of their players are eligible for direct entry on Thursday.  

Erakovic is playing the DFS International at Birmingham, where she has drawn Canadian Stephanie Dubois, ranked 15 places behind her, in the first round. The 20-year-old Aucklander is then contesting the Ordina Open at s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, as her final leadup to Wimbledon, which starts on June 23.