Tennis: Rising stars take step up

The new faces of New Zealand tennis step into the big time in the next two weeks.

The 18-year-old GD Jones yesterday qualified for the main draw in the Heineken Open starting on January 10 and on Monday fellow Aucklander Marina Erakovic, 16, dips her toes into the senior game at the ASB Classic.

But anyone expecting Erakovic to be overawed at the prospect of potentially playing someone in the world's top 30 first up, and before a home crowd, would be wrong.

"I'm determined not to place too much pressure on myself," she said.

"I'm not too worried about who I come up against, whether it's a qualifier or a top player.

"They are all high-quality players, it's a professional tournament and everybody can play well. It's my first time, it's new for me but there's less pressure in a way.

"Nobody is expecting anything so I'll give it my best and really enjoy it."

Erakovic has had an unusual preparation for the US$140,000 ($194,600) tournament.

On November 25, she completed her final Year 12 exam at Glendowie College and flew out to Florida for three junior tournaments, including the highly regarded Orange Bowl where she won the doubles title with Romanian Monica Niculescu.

Erakovic returned on December 21 and straight into a rigorous regime with her coach of the past eight years, former top New Zealand player Chris Lewis, to prepare for the Classic.

Since then, her average day has consisted of two training sessions - about 1 1/2 hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon - interspersed with gym work.

She has trained with other players in the Classic field this week, including former winner Anne Kremer and defending champion Eleni Daniilidou.

That has helped to guard against the monotony of practice sessions, and Erakovic has found it easier to get into a routine now that school is behind her.

She clearly relishes working with former Wimbledon finalist Lewis, whose basic message, she said, was "do what comes naturally".

"As you grow older you have to become more self reliant, but he shows you how to structure a point, how to hit shots where, what would be a good shot and he's great in giving that advice."

This past year, Erakovic and partner Michaela Krajicek won the United States Open junior doubles title and she was a finalist in the Wimbledon equivalent with Niculescu.

She is eligible for two more years in the junior division.

The coming year is shaping up as a mix of senior and junior events. But 2006 involves peering too far into the crystal ball to be specific about her commitments.

She awaits exam results this month.

Her options include going back for a final year at college, tackling university, or doing a bit of university interspersed with plenty of tennis. She's mulling over her choices, but the idea of hitting balls for much of this year understandably has plenty of appeal.

Erakovic emigrated from Split with her family in 1994. Her father, Mladen, a ship's captain, taught her the game - she began whacking balls when she was "5 or 6".

He travels with her and "he is a very important part of my career".

Her poise and confidence give an air of someone several years older.

In time, she is likely to have a range of career alternatives, and Erakovic recognises that playing professional tennis will not last a lifetime.

"I definitely want to have other options. A tennis career doesn't last long but at the moment that would be my top priority.

"The big goal would be to be No 1, and to achieve that you would have to be winning Grand Slam titles.

"But I'm only 16, there's still a long way to go. But as my tennis improves that's when your goals get higher and higher."

But let's not leap ahead. For now, it's one step at a time, starting on Monday.