Tennis: Erakovic in a winning groove

Marina Erakovic. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Marina Erakovic has continued her recent compelling form by winning a third successive Challenger tennis title in the space of six weeks in north America.

The unseeded Auckland 22-year-old capped a top week by beating third seed and Croatian world No 173 Ajla Tomljanovic in the final of the $US25,000 ($NZ31,930) International Tennis Federation clay court event at Jackson, Mississippi, today.

Ranked 230th in the world, Erakovic barely broke into a sweat before disposing of Tomljanovic 6-1 6-2.

After a 2010 season wrecked by injury, it is further proof that Erakovic is nearing her best form again and followed Challenger series wins in Mexico last month and Pelham, Alabama last week.

Top seed Jan-Yung Chan, of Taiwan, and fifth seeded German Laura Siegemund were among her scalps during the week.

Erakovic, who soared as high as 49th in the world in 2008, has now won 11 Challenger titles since appearing on the circuit in 2005.

- NZPA