Tennis: Erakovic into second round at Wimbledon

New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic cruised into the women's singles second round at Wimbledon today after beating Taiwanese rival Kai-Chen Chang 6-4 6-2 in a rain delayed match.

"I think I'm playing much better than ever before because as the years go by everyone is improving in tennis," said Erakovic who battled through qualifying to make this year's main draw.

She last played this grand slam tournament in 2008 when she went as far as the third round.

Her second round opponent will be 25th seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia who struggled to beat Russian world No 168 Vitalia Diatchenko 4-6 7-6 6-3.

Erakovic, ranked 144th, fought back from 4-2 down to take 10 of the next 12 games against Chang in little more than half an hour to the delight of dozens of New Zealand expatriates courtside.

She said the turning point against Chang, ranked 136th, came in the seventh game.

"She broke me back to go 4-2 and from then on I started to play better and attack more and put her on the back foot, then she struggled. She likes her timing and to hit a big ball.

"I just told myself you have to start hitting the ball and play more aggressively. Once you let her dictate she hits it hard and flat. But once I took the initiative it was a lot easier.

"I've always played well on grass. It suits my service and slice and I can use my volley well.

"I've been playing on grass at Nottingham, Birmingham and in qualifying. I've played a lot of matches in the last few weeks. I've had time on grass, which is nice."

Erakovic had waited eight hours in the rain on Monday to play so was relieved to be first out on court seven today.

"I'm really happy the schedule put me first today. You know you are going to play at noon. Yesterday I was here from 11.30am-7pm, which was a long day, but you have to deal with that."

The 23-year-old says she has put behind her the injury nightmare that forced her to miss Wimbledon the last two years.

"After 2008 there were tough times. But now I'm playing well and winning some matches.

"I was out with a hip injury for most of 2009. It was the first time anything like that had happened to me. That's what I mean by tough. I tried to keep a good attitude and to do other things."

She will celebrate tonight by taking her mother, Liliana, out to celebrate her birthday.

"It was nice to get a win on her birthday. She's pretty happy. I think we're going out for dinner - it's her choice where we go. She says she wants a new handbag so maybe I'll go shopping round the Wimbledon area."

On Wednesday's meeting with Hantuchova, Erakovic said: "My aim is always to take one match at a time. If it keeps going, then fantastic. Overall, I'm playing solid tennis. I'm not at all bothered who I play next."

- NZPA