KEY POINTS:
Marina Erakovic might be contemplating life in the world's top 100 for the first time but she's well aware of how much more she needs to add to her game to compete at the very top.
Yesterday she was dealt to by former world No 1 and ASB Classic champion Lindsay Davenport 6-0 6-3 in 57 minutes in the semifinal of the WTA Tour tier III event in Memphis.
It was an impressive achievement to get to the last four having come through qualifying and this week she will jump into the world's top 100 to become the first New Zealander to accomplish that feat since Pavlina Nola in 2002.
Her ranking will almost certainly guarantee her entry into the main draw at the French Open in May, as well as the improved pay cheques that come with it.
Only two months ago playing in grand slams was still some way off.
She was ranked 153, a position she had been hovering around for a couple of years, but has since gone on an incredible run of form that has seen her as one of the big movers on the women's scene. She reached the semifinals of January's ASB Classic and then won an ITF tournament in Australia, as well as two doubles titles.
It's why she was in good spirits yesterday despite her defeat to Davenport.
"A loss is a loss but a loss to a former No 1 isn't too bad," she said. "I'm still a little disappointed but I feel it has been a great week. To come through qualifying and to get to the semifinals is a great achievement.
"I'm really happy with where my tennis is at but it was a bit of a learning curve [today] and that was what I needed.
"With Lindsay, you get one shot in the rally and if you don't do something with it the point is finished. You have to make that serve or hit a winner [although] sometimes I came up with shots and surprised myself."
Erakovic was hopeful of playing at Indian Wells next week, a US$175,000 tier I event but didn't think her improved ranking will be high enough to earn her direct entry. She will then head to Europe to play in a number of tournaments there in the lead-up to the French Open.
"I definitely think that in a few years I will be playing much better," she said. "I'm still learning, I'm in a really good place mentally."
She's also in a much better place on the rankings and, for long-suffering New Zealand fans, it's a welcome sight.
