After looking so good yesterday, Marina Erakovic was off her game today and was duly bundled out of the ASB Classic by American Jamie Hampton 6-1 7-6.
The New Zealand No 1 is trying to play a "bigger'' game in 2013 but came up against a player who hit even bigger. Hampton timed the ball sweetly in the first set, which took only 27 minutes. In contrast, Erakovic looked sluggish and off-colour.
Erakovic had her chances in the second set, breaking Hampton twice and serving for the set, but was taken to a tiebreaker which Hampton won 7-5.
It was at least an improvement for Erakovic, who was a first-round casualty in the three previous years, but she would have sensed a chance to do well given her part of the draw had opened up following the early exit of defending champion and fourth seed Zheng Jie.
Hampton will now take on Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens in tomorrow's quarter-final.
