Tennis: Erakovic begins long journey back to tennis' promised land

Marina Erakovic says she knows she has what it takes to reclaim a spot among the game's elite. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland has been a happy hunting ground for Marina Erakovic.

In four appearances at the ASB Classic, the 21-year-old has never failed to make it past the first round.

In 2008, she announced herself as a genuine top flight pro, beating world No 22 Vera Zvonareva en route to the semifinals.

That result marked the start of a strong run by the Croatian-born Kiwi, which included making the third round in Wimbledon as she surged to 49 in the world. But she tailed off dramatically in the second half of that season, enduring an extended winless run in singles, although her doubles game did flourish, producing three WTA titles.

She righted the ship briefly with first-round wins in Auckland and in the Australian Open but shortly after began feeling pain in her hip. By the time she got to Miami in March, the pain had become unbearable. Scans revealed serious damage - and it has been all downhill from there.

A six month lay-off that included a nasty ankle sprain on clay in training, coupled with a moderate run of form since her comeback in November, means Erakovic enters Monday's tournament with a free-falling ranking of 227.

She has travelled to the promised land of direct entries into big tournaments, hefty pay cheques and decent ranking point hauls that is life inside tennis' top 60. But her stay there was brief. Getting back won't be easy.

"I've got to work my arse off again," Erakovic said after a hit-up with Chinese second seed Li Na on centre court.

"I feel like I'm looking at a very big hill and I've got to start climbing. But that is tennis. It is rewarding and it is challenging and this is what I want to do, so I'll give it my all while I can."

So far the signs are good. Erakovic has posted a modest 4-4 record at ITF level since returning to fitness but this week she has been hitting the ball well. There has been plenty of pop in her serve and forehand, her two best weapons. And her body is holding together just fine.

"Everything is really good. Since I started playing tournaments in November I have been fine, no worries. The ankle has been good and the hip has been good and I've been trying to keep it that way.

"It is just actually nice to come out on to the court and have no pain, just be relaxed and playing. A lot of players have injuries, you see them taped up and things and it is tough. So you cherish the days when you get out there and it is perfect."

After several seasons on an upward curve, rebounding after a dip is a new experience, she admits.

"It is a first for me. I've never been this long out of the game and it was really hard. I wasn't doing anything for the first few months.

"I was on crutches and then I was only allowed to walk after four weeks.

"It was tough seeing the French Open and Wimbledon on telly and thinking 'hey, I was supposed to be here'.

"But then again you learn a lot. You see how much you love the sport and how much you want to play. You train harder and the hunger grows."

Some question whether Erakovic really has the game to maintain an extended spell in tennis' upper echelon. There are question marks over her mobility and, after 2009, her durability.

Erakovic, however, has no doubts she can get back to where she was in mid-2008.

"Having been very close to the top, knowing what it is like, I don't think it will take me long to get back.

"I know I am a good player. I've beaten some of the top players so I have confidence in myself and my game to know that I'll make it there again.

"It is just a matter of doing the work, doing the practice, staying healthy and sooner or later you will get back up there."

Her path back should be aided by the sport's protected ranking system.

It allows her to use her ranking from the time she was injured (83) in eight tournaments.

She can use the protected ranking at one Grand Slam, which will be this month's Australian Open, and two premier events - likely to be Indian Wells and Miami. After that she will be on the look-out for international events where the ranking will get her into the main draw.

Her goal will be to garner enough points to get her ranking back into the top 100. That should open the door at least to qualifiers at WTA events. But if she fails, she faces a return to ITF level and a long, hard slog back.

Next week's Classic could well provide a pointer to which road she follows.