Erakovic downs Brit to advance to third round

Reuters

MARCHING ON: Marina Erakovic on her way to beating Briton Laura Robson to reach the third round of the WTA tournament in Birmingham.

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Marina Erakovic is through to the third round of the WTA tournament in Birmingham, England after beating Britain's big tennis hope Laura Robson in three sets.

The match overnight (NZT) lasted 15 seconds short of two hours and was a tight contest all of the way through before ninth seed Erakovic emerged a 6-4 3-6 6-4 winner.

What proved to be telling though was Erakovic's serving in the deciding set. It is one of her biggest weapons and she was able to get 67 per cent of her first serves in as opposed to Robson, who got in just 55 per cent of her first serves.

Making it through to the last 16 in Birmingham further enhances Erakovic's chances of being selected for the London Olympics.

This tournament is played on grass, the same surface as the Games, which will be held at Wimbledon and it has always been Erakovic's favoured surface.

Erakovic, who is the ninth seed in Birmingham, will play eighth seeded Ekaterina Makarova from Russia in the third round tonight (NZT).

Like Erakovic, Makarova lost in the first round of the recently completed French Open and this will be the first time they have played against each other.

- © Fairfax NZ News