Wimbledon: Kiwi Erakovic into doubles semifinal

New Zealander Marina Erakovic is through to the women's doubles semifinals at Wimbledon after an epic 43-game upset of third seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond.

In a match that echoed the world-record breaking 11-hour fight between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut on the same number 18 court at last year's tournament, Erakovic and her Thai partner, Tamarine Tanasugarn, prevailed 4-6 7-6 13-11 in just over three hours.

The result is the best by a New Zealander at Wimbledon since Erakovic's former coach Chris Lewis reached the men's final in 1983 and earns the duo Stg62,500 ($NZ121,974) with a potential Stg250,000 to split if they win the final.

Erakovic, 23, was the youngest player on court by a decade and made her youth show as she became stronger as the match progessed.

The American veterans, who have eight grand slam doubles titles between them took the first set 6-4 after breaking their opponents' serve in the eighth game.

But Erakovic and Tanasugarn matched the former world number ones to take the second set to a tiebreak after the Americans threw away a match point on Tanasugarn's serve at 6-5.

Erakovic played immaculately to help level the match at one set all with an easy 7-1 tiebreak win.

Some 90 minutes had passed already as Erakovic cranked up her forehand and serve to consistently hold serve and put her opponents under pressure.

Her composure and resilience belied her inexperience at this stage of a grand slam and it was the Aucklander who helped her Thai partner out when they faced two break points at 7-7 and then set up two match points at 8-7, which were also thrown away.

Erakovic's deft lob in the next game had New Zealanders at courtside cheering and with Erakovic was consistently holding her serve, the 37-year-old Raymond and 34-year-old Huber began to struggle with the pace in the afternoon heat.

In the end, Raymond cracked in the 24th game of the set, volleying wide with a backhand to surrender the match.

"It was long but I'm really happy. It was a very tight match - in the first set.

"We had our chances and could have won it but we kept positive and in the end I felt as though we were played well and it was only a matter of time before we made a break," Erakovic said.

"Liezel and Lisa are a good team and have done very well in the past so it was a very good win for us."

Erakovic and Tanasugarn were eliminated in the final round of qualifying and only made the main draw via a lucky loser spot following a late withdrawal.

They have not looked back since, beating American qualifiers Lindsay Lee-Waters and Megan Levy-Moulton in straight sets in the first round, the Polish pairing of Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska next before demolishing 10th seeded Czechs Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Iveta Benesova 6-2 6-1.

Erakovic and Tanasugarn paired up first in Japan two years ago and won there and in Thailand this year.

"She's got very good hands and can make angles that are amazing. I'm solid at the net and have a good serve so we play well together.

"We were lucky losers in qualifying and what can I say?

"We've nothing to lose and I felt as today's match went along we got better and better."

The pair will play either of Sabine Lisicki (Germany) and Samantha Stosur (Australia) or Nadia Petrova (Russia) and Anastasia Rodionova (Australia) in the semifinals on Saturday (NZt).

- NZPA