KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Marina Erakovic has made the quarterfinals of the US$175,000 ($219,215.83) Memphis women's tennis event today.
Erakovic beat American wildcard Amber Liu 7-5 6-3 in the second round.
Erakovic has earned 35 world ranking points and US$4050 for making the top eight in the tournament.
By making the quarterfinals of a WTA event for the first time outside of New Zealand, Erakovic's ranking is likely to improve to inside the top 100.
If she gets to 95, she would be virtually guaranteed a place in the main draw of every Grand Slam event where players collect US$15,000 just for showing up.
Pavlina Nola was the last Kiwi to do that (in 2000), although she was inside 100 when she first became a New Zealander.
Before the event the 19-year-old Aucklander would have been drawn to play Venus Williams in the last eight. But how things can change in the world of professional sport.
Williams, the world No 7, tournament top seed and defending champion, was dumped out of the event by little-known qualifier Petra Kvitova, 17, of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round.
Erakovic will now play Russian Alla Kudryavtseva, who has a ranking of 116, or Kvitova in the quarters.
Both are beatable players for Erakovic. Certainly they look less formidable on paper than a potential clash with Williams.
Erakovic has played Kudryavtseva on one previous occasion - in the final of an ITF Challenger in Beijing in 2006 - and won in straight sets.
After making the main draw by winning three matches in qualifying, Erakovic yesterday beat Alina Jidkova of Russia 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round.
"I was a bit nervous at the start of the match [against Jidkova]," Erakovic said.
"She started well and continued to play well, but after the first set I felt I was in control.
Erakovic said she didn't want to anticipate matches too far ahead.
- with NZPA
