Marina Erakovic's phenomenal rise up the world tennis rankings continued today when she jumped to 63rd after finishing runner-up at yesterday's US$220,000 WTA event in Quebec City, Canada.
The Kiwi No 1 started the year at 324 and is clearly benefiting from being injury-free after battling hip and wrist injuries for nearly two years.
She rose to 63 from 85 when the latest rankings were released today and slots in as the 53rd best player this calendar year.
Erakovic's rapid rise is likely to slow down - it's a lot easier to make significant ground when down the rankings - but she's playing with confidence and believes she can beat top-50 players. She doesn't possess major weapons like many of the top players but belief is often more important then a booming serve.
"I feel more comfortable at this level with these players and I definitely know I have a game that can win me a lot of matches, so it's definitely a step forward in the right direction,'' she said yesterday after her three-set defeat to the Czech Republic's Barbara Zahlavova Strycova in the final of the Bell Challenge in Quebec.
"I'm feeling more comfortable with my game with every match, I'm learning more about my strengths and areas I need to work on in certain match situations.''
Her run in Quebec was the first time since Belinda Cordwell 22 years ago a Kiwi had reached the final of a WTA event, and she's also played in two quarterfinals at WTA level.
Erakovic started the year on the second-tier ITF circuit, where she won three titles, and has since toppled world No 4 Victoria Azarenka in reaching the quarterfinals of July's WTA event at Stanford.
She qualified for the last three grand slam events - her ranking would now earn her direct entry - and her singles record for the year sits at a healthy 50 wins and 15 defeats.
The 23-year-old is set to play three tournaments in Europe before returning to New Zealand in November and could return her close to her career-best world ranking of 49, achieved in July 2008.
- Michael Brown
