Tennis: Erakovic falls short of final

Marina Erakovic's bid to become the first New Zealand female tennis player to reach a Wimbedon final failed today after a valiant effort at Wimbledon.

The Aucklander, 23, and her Thai partner Tamarine Tanasugarn, went off court 12 in semi-darkness at 9.30pm on Friday night with the score at 3-6, 6-4, 5-5 against Australian Sam Stosur and German Sabine Lisicki. But it took just 20 minutes more for Stosur to serve out for a 6-3, 4-6, 8-6 victory on Saturday afternoon UK time.

Tanasugarn held serve on the resumption at a sunny and hot Wimbledon court 12, and the unfancied NZ-Thai pair were just two points from an upset in the next game when they took singles semi finalist Lisicki's serve to deuce in the next game.

Former Wimbledon junior doubles winner Erakovic was first to crack, losing her service game with a miscued forehand to leave it 7-6 to the number three seeds. And Stosur wrapped it up as Erakovic banged her head in frustration with her racquet after sending up two weak lobs in a row.

The Wimbledon authorities controversially moved the match from centre court at the last minute because home favourite Andy Murray's clash with Rafa Nadal was over-running. As it was, Murray quickly lost, just half an hour after the women's doubles semi started on the unlit court 12, and they could have played on the lit centre court until 11pm. Conditions became farcical in fading light until the referee finally stepped in at 9.30pm after the NZ/Thai pair had hauled back a 2-5 final set deficit to draw level at 5-5.

The Australian/German pair were huge favourites to win but singles semi-finalist Lisicki's serving continually let her down, while world top 10 singles player Stosur's composure fell away too.

Erakovic and Tanasugarn, both ranked well outside the top 100 in singles and having qualified as lucky losers for the tournament proper at Wimbledon after losing in qualifying, gelled as a pair. Erakovic, 23, served much the stronger, while Tanasugarn, 34, was reliable from the back court and deft at the net.

The final is against Czech Kveta Peschke and Slovak Katarina Srebotnik, the number two seeds, this evening UK time, on centre court.

Erakovic's former coach Chris Lewis was the last Kiwi to make a grand slam final, at Wimbledon in 1983 but no New Zealand woman has got further than Erakovic.

Erakovic said: "He was my coach for nine years and used to tell me a lot about his Wimbledon days and what the event is. Hopefully this run will make tennis in New Zealand stronger."

- NZPA