Marina Erakovic was a winner on the tennis court yesterday ... and off it too.
Her three-set triumph over ASB Classic top seed and Russian world No 22 Vera Zvonareva was the highlight, but she also scored a win over her father, Mladen, in the battle to selectthe radio station they would listen to on the drive from their St Heliers home.
"I won that one too," said a beaming Erakovic, 19, after the tennis win, in front of a capacity centre-court crowd at the ASB Tennis Centre yesterday.
"I wanted to listen to ZM - dad wanted some other station."
Erakovic is tipped for bigger things.
After the New Zealander's win over American Ashley Harkleroad on Wednesday, tournament second seed Maria Kirilenko predicted Erakovic had a good chance of beating Zvonareva.
Kirilenko's coach, Eric Van Harpen, went further, tipping Erakovic as a potential top-30 player.
Tournament director Richard Palmer was thrilled with the 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) win, the highlight from a local player in his 12 years in the role.
"To have a Kiwi into the semifinals is something special," he said.
Her proud father said the victory would "do her a lot of good".
"She stayed cool under pressure. "This is the best I've seen her play."
Her mother was just as ecstatic.
"She is not a junior any more," said Liliana Erakovic before going home to prepare a special dinner - fresh fish - for a special daughter.
Erakovic will play unseeded Aravene Rezai of France in today's semifinal.
