Tennis: Erakovic to play Li Na at Aussie Open

New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic will play China's Li Na in the first round of the Australian Open.

Erakovic, who enters the tournament via a protected ranking due to her injury last year, comes into the Australian Open after losing to Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in the first round of the ASB Classic last week.

It is her second year in the main draw of the tournament. Last year she beat Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic in the first round before losing in three sets to another Czech, Lucie Safarova.

Li, the 16th seed for the Australian Open, this week beat world number four Caroline Wozniacki in the first round at Sydney before losing to Italian Flavia Pannetta.

Should Erakovic win she will play either Stephanie Dubois of Canada or Agnes Szavay of Hungary in the second round.

- NZPA