KEY POINTS:
A disappointing result for New Zealand tennis number one Marina Erakovic in the first round of the WTA tour event in Fez, Morocco.
Erakovic has been beaten 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 by 98th ranked Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
Erakovic said she failed to keep her standards up, and while she played well in the first set, things slid slowly down for her.
Erakovic is seeded fourth for the doubles with partner Alina Jidkova and plays tomorrow.
The Aucklander has one more WTA clay court tournament in Istanbul next month, just prior to her French Open debut at Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Rubin Statham has jumped 104 places in the latest ATP rankings following his semifinal effort at an ATP Challenger tournament in the US at the weekend. Statham's world ranking is up to 430, cementing his place as New Zealand number two behind 322nd ranked Dan King Turner.
- NEWSTALK ZB
