Glendowie College student Marina Erakovic confirmed her rising status with a 6-2 6-3 win over New Zealand No 4 Tracey O'Conner in the semifinals of the Auckland tennis championships yesterday.
Erakovic, 14, will meet experienced New Zealand No 2 Leanne Baker in the final tomorrow evening.
The doubles finals will be played today.
Erakovic's win against O'Connor, in blustery conditions outdoors, did not help either player get into a rhythm but did show Erakovic's versatility.
O'Connor, 19, has a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking of 541 in the world and has been in the New Zealand Federation Cup team for the past two seasons.
In the other semifinal, Baker beat her former doubles partner Nikki Tippins 6-2 6-3. Baker has a world singles ranking of 364.
In the men's semifinals, illness forced Alistair Hunt to withdraw, giving Jacob Olsen a free ride into the final.
Hunt was the two-time defending champ but was suffering after a busy weekend of tennis.
Wellington's Robbie Cheyne beat Lee Radovanovich 2-6 6-3 6-3 in the second semifinal.
Tennis: Erakovic shows her versatility
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