KEY POINTS:
Win or lose today, Marina Erakovic is expected to find out on Monday she's cracked the world's top 100 players.
With her three-set win over Russian Alla Kudrysavtseva in the Cellular South Cup in Memphis yesterday, the 19-year-old Aucklander has made her second WTA semifinal this year, after
reaching the last four at Auckland's ASB Classic at the start of January.
Erakovic's 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win in a 1h 47min match sets up a plum semifinal clash with American great Lindsay Davenport today, the fourth seed having whistled past Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-0, 6-2.
But even if she's beaten by Davenport, the points gained so far should ensure Erakovic, who was world No 125 at the start of the tournament, is in the late 90s on WTA rankings next week.
And that puts her within touching distance of direct entry into the main draws at the French Open, starting on May 26, and Wimbledon Grand Slams. Those fields comprise 128 players, and allowing for wildcards, qualifiers, injuries and withdrawals, around the top 96 players go straight into the main draw.
"With this ranking I think I'll be in, but don't take my word for it," Erakovic quipped last night. "It's funny but you're asking the wrong person. I really don't keep track. It's not that I'm superstitious, but I just play tennis and let the rest sort itself out."
Erakovic has come a long way from the 16-year-old with a dream. The Grand Slams are now reality and, in her third year kicking around the world circuit, she feels like she belongs.
"It becomes a routine. You know what you're doing, who you're going to see, who you're going to play.
"I'm pretty down to earth about it. I take it as it goes along but it's fantastic if I do get into these main draws of Grand Slams."
She likes the shape her game is in, while acknowledging there's plenty of work to do with her coach, former world No 25 Dutchman, Michiel Schapers, with whom she has been working since 2006.
But Erakovic can reflect on an immensely satisfying couple of months, having started the year ranked No 153. "Overall it's going quite well. I'm just enjoying myself," she said.
Next stop is Indian Wells and the US$2.1 million Pacific Life Cup there starting on Monday week where she will attempt to qualify for the Tier 1 tournament.