New Zealand tennis player Paula Marama was dumped in straight sets from the ASB Classic qualifying tournament in Auckland today.
Marama, with a world ranking of 567, was beaten 6-2 6-0 by Jill Craybas in the second round exposing the gulf between the two players.
Craybas ranked 99, said Marama was a talented player with a strong serve but lacked big tournament experience - a point acknowledged by Marama.
"I have to be a lot more aggressive and more consistent," she said.
"It was good to have a match beforehand but I was still a little nervous."
The Paris based player said her aim this year was to improve her ranking and get into the top 300.
Craybas' next opponent Meilen Tu, did not suffer from the unsteady nerves which blighted Marama after snatching a close victory against Russian Tatiana Panova.
The Californina dropped the first set 5-7 but battled back to take the second 7-6 and stormed away in the third 6-1.
In other matches Hungarian Melinda Czink, ranked 79 in the world and the No 1 seed for the qualifier, was upset 7-6 6-1 by Seiko Okamoto , the 295th ranked player.
- NZPA
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Tennis: Paula Marama beaten in straight sets
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