Tennis: Erakovic beaten in first round

Marina Erakovic returns a shot to Shahar Peer, of Israel, during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament. Photo / AP

Marina Erakovic's recent run of good form came to an abrupt halt yesterday when she was ousted in the first round of the prestigious Indian Wells tennis tournament in California, going down 6-3 6-4 to former world No 12 Shahar Peer from Israel.

Having won the title in Memphis two weeks ago, Erakovic was looking to continue her run of good form in one of the biggest tournaments outside the four grand slams. But Peer, ranked 128, dispatched the 63rd-ranked Kiwi in 77 minutes.

Erakovic will team up with Britain's Heather Watson in the doubles, where they will face seventh-seeded Americans Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears.