KEY POINTS:
New Zealand tennis number one Marina Erakovic is through to the semifinals of the Edgbaston Classic in Birmingham with a 6-4 7-5 win over fifth seed Alona Bondarenko.
Erakovic, playing the last match of the day, said it was the best she had played all week and now moves on to face the younger of the Bondarenko sisters, Kateryna, for a place in her first ever WTA tour final.
Erakovic held a match point at 5-4 in the second set but Bondarenko steadied to level the match at 5-5. However the elder sister was unable to maintain her momentum and a delighted Erakovic avoided a tie break to close out the match.
"I think it was the best I've played all week," said the Croatian-born New Zealander on the tournament's website.
"It was up and down for both of us but I managed to win the crucial games."
And Erakovic said she was looking forward to her semifinal, second on centre court tomorrow.
"I know Kateryna from my junior days and she plays similar to her sister so it will be another tough match."
- Newstalk ZB, NZPA