Erakovic all-but qualified for French open

Marina Erakovic is almost certain to be the first New Zealand woman to compete in a tennis Grand Slam for six years.

Erakovic's world ranking will climb back inside the top 100 and probably to a career high following her first round victory at the WTA Tour event in Miami this morning.

The New Zealand wildcard beat German Martina Muller 6-4 6-7 6-2 to open her campaign in the Sony Ericsson Open at Florida.

Even if she loses her second round match, against former Dutch doubles partner Michaella Krajicek on Saturday morning (NZ time), her world ranking should improve from 101 to the low 90s, having picked up 30 ranking points today.

The top 100-ranked players on April 13 will earn automatic qualification to the year's first Grand Slam tournament six weeks later, the French Open in Paris from May 25. The other places in the 132-strong main draw are filled by 16 wildcards and 16 qualifiers.

Last year injuries and withdrawls saw the top 110 players automatically qualify.

Erakovic, 20, would be desperately unlucky to slip outside the leading 100 by mid-April. She would have to fail to win another game while a host of players ranked below her would need to play well above their station.

The last New Zealand woman to contest a Grand Slam was Bulgarian-born Pavlina Nola in the 2002 Australian Open.

This month Erakovic's ranking climbed to a high of 98 when she reached the semifinals of the WTA event at Memphis, losing to former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport.

It was the Aucklander's second semifinal appearance of the year, having gone on a dream run at her home tournament in January.

- NZPA