Tennis: Erakovic in first round loss

Marina Erakovic. File photo / Sarah Ivey

New Zealand's Marina Erakovic stuttered again in her return to competitive tennis, losing her first round match at the Slovenia Open this morning.

Erakovic succumbed 6-2 7-6 to Russian qualifier Alexandra Panova in the US$220,000 ($299,108) WTA event at Portoroz.

The Aucklander used an injury-protected ranking of 82 to play in the main draw but struggled against the 148th-ranked Russian.

- NZPA