Marina Erakovic let a good thing go as she lost her singles quarter-final at the Wellington Futures yesterday after leading by a set, but Leanne Baker came to the rescue for the tournament, winning her match easily.
Erakovic made the semis of the US$10,000 ($14,000) ASB International last year but this time was defeated by a Korean, Ye-Ra Lee, whose only weapon appeared to be retrieving the ball and hitting it back deep.
Lee won the match 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 as Erakovic, 16, totally dominated the first set, winning the first four games in a row. However the second set was a different story with the 575th ranked Lee finding a rhythm and chasing down every ball.
Erakovic then started to force her shots and make mistakes but still showed heart to come back from 1-5 down to eventually lose the set 4-6.
In the final set Erakovic had her chances, including a game point on her serve to go up 3-2 but lost the game to give Lee a lead. Erakovic even showed some very rare frustration at herself by throwing her racquet to the ground.
She had a 4-3 lead and then a break point on Lee's serve but could not convert. The scores were then locked at 4-4 but Erakovic found herself broken to trail at 4-5 and Lee served out the match.
While Erakovic struggled, the other Kiwi, Baker, easily won her game against American qualifier Tiffany Eklov 6-1, 6-3 and even admitted experimenting with a few shots in the second set.
"I was always in control and tried a few different things in the second set," said the 24-year-old Baker, who is seventh seed for the event.
Baker was far too experienced for her opponent, who sprayed balls all over the court when put under pressure.
For Baker the Wellington and Blenheim Futures are a chance to get on court and play plenty of matches, even though doubles, where she is ranked 111 in the world, is now her main focus.
"I've come here to stay competitive and keep sharp. I'm almost surprised at how well I'm playing."
After watching some of Erakovic's loss to Lee she says she knows what to do against the hard-running Korean.
"I just have to be aggressive. If I stand at the back and rally I'm not going to win. I have to get to net. Every time Marina went to net she won the point."
Top seed Lauren Breadmore was made to work hard by fifth seed Kyung-Mi Chang of Korea. The 332 ranked Australian beat Chang 6-2, 6-4 and will now face fellow countrywoman and fourth seed Mirielle Dittmann.
Tennis: Erakovic loses in three to tireless Korean
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