Tennis: Erakovic into Challenger main draw

Marina Erakovic. Photo / Doug Sherring

New Zealand women's tennis No 2 Marina Erakovic has won through qualifying at a $US25,000 ($NZ33,242) Challenger tournament in the United States.

Ranked 287th in the world, Erakovic beat Austrian Nicole Rottman in straight sets in the first round of qualifying today at Hammond, Louisiana, before seeing off Slovak Michaela Pochabova 6-3 6-1 to qualify.

She will play American third seed Julia Cohen, ranked 159th, in the first round of the tournament.

In the doubles, Erakovic and her American partner Alexa Glatch face a local wildcard pair in the first round.

- NZPA