KEY POINTS:
New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic has suffered another opening round defeat on the WTA Tour.
The world number 53 has been thumped 6-1 6-4 by Ayumi Morita in the first round of the Japan Open in Tokyo.
It is Erakovic's sixth successive exit at this stage of a tournament.
She says Morita came out swinging and it took her a while to adjust.
Erakovic says Morita really likes to dominate and hit the ball and she struggled against the Japanese world number 136. She says started to play a bit better in the second set but broke down and could not get back.
Erakovic will now team up with American Jill Craybas in the doubles.
- NEWSTALK ZB
