Tennis: Erakovic chases glory in Quebec

Marina Erakovic faces sixth seed barbora Zahlavova-Strycova of the Czech Republic in today's final. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Marina Erakovic is aiming to become the first Kiwi tennis player to win on the WTA Tour since 1989, when she lines up in the final of the Quebec City Classic in Canada this morning.

The world No 85 will meet Czech sixth seed Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova in the tournament decider with the winner set to pocket US$37,000 ($44,600).

Erakovic, who was 0-3 in her previous semifinal appearances on tour, defeated third seed Tamira Paszek 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 to win her way to thefinal.

Belinda Cordwell was the last New Zealander to win on the WTA Tour.

Erakovic had to battle just to make the tournament decider.

She was down 0-3 and 0-40 in the final set on the carpet surface but rallied to take the match in a two-hour, 28-minute duel.

Erakovic, 23, has continued to improve this year and played in three of this year's Grand Slams, only missing out on qualifying for the Australian Open.

She was a semifinalist in the doubles at Wimbledon this year too, when she was partnered by Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn.

The Croatian-born right-hander, who was ranked as low as 324th in the world this year, has earned $190,000 on Tour in 2011 and will give that a major boost this weekend.

The path to the final was tough and Erakovic defeated world No25 and tournament top seed Daniela Hantuchova in the quarter-finals.

Zahlavova- Strycova made the final on the back of a 6-4, 6-3 win over her Dutch opponent Michaella Krajicek.

The match will mark the first career meeting of Erakovic and Zahlavova-Strycova.

The Czech player has made one previous final on the WTA Tour, losing 2-6, 6-1, 2-6 to Agnes Szavay in Prague last year.

Zahlavova-Strycova has won 14 doubles titles on the WTA Tour and has career earnings of more than $1.4 million.