Tennis: Major task for Erakovic to halt rankings slide

Marina Erakovic. Photo / Dean Purcell

The next six weeks shape as pivotal in Marina Erakovic's career as she tries to arrest a slide down the rankings but she was handed no favours at this week's French Open when drawn against world No4 Petra Kvitova.

The reigning Wimbledon champion beat Erakovic in straight sets in the second round at Paris last year and has won all four of their matches.

Apart from one semifinal appearance in 2012, however, Kvitova has struggled on the Parisian clay.

"I've been close and Petra's an amazing player, a grand slam champion who can play well on the clay, but why not beat her for the first time?" Erakovic said. "I will maybe learn from last year and make a few adjustments by playing the match a bit smarter than last year."

Kvitova prefers faster surfaces, illustrated by her two Wimbledon titles last year and in 2011, but is gradually improving on clay, and won the Madrid Open title for the second time earlier this month after thrashing world No1 Serena Williams en-route.

The Czech is wary of the threat Erakovic poses. "As I saw the draw, [last year's game] came to my mind and I know how she can be dangerous. She hits a lot of slice, drop shots and has a great forehand and serve, so she is a tricky first round opponent," Kvitova said.

Erakovic is hoping to rejuvenate a season that is threatening to fall away. The 27-year-old has progressed past the first round only four times in 11 tournaments this year and only once, in Pattaya in February, has she gone deep when she made it to the semifinals. But she insists the poor run hasn't dented her confidence.

"If you look at the last three or four months, all the losses have been really tight," she said. "I know I can play really well and I am going to keep working really hard to do my best to get there."

Her ranking has slipped from 76 at the start of the year to 82. In fact, Erakovic has struggled since late 2013, when she ended that season inside the top 50 at a career-high 48.

The biggest issue has been a lack of consistency and the next six weeks are crucial if she is to improve up the rankings. With few points to defend, good results will have her back up around the top 50, but a bad run will see her slip outside the top 100 and force her to play qualifying at grand slam tournaments.

"I'm close but not quite there," she said. "I think I definitely have the goods to be a top-20 player and that's the biggest goal for me."

Erakovic's Spanish coach Eduardo Nicolas has no doubt Erakovic should be ranked much higher than she is and believes she will rise into the top 50 again soon.

"Marina needs only to believe in herself because she is playing at a high level and has been a bit unlucky this year losing some close matches.

"Tactically, she is using all her tools better and she is trying to be more of a complete player."

• Matt Brown travelled to the French Open with Emirates.