LONDON - New Zealand No 1 Marina Erakovic and partner Michaella Krajicek were dumped out of the women's tennis doubles at Wimbledon today 0-6 2-6.
The thrashing at the hands of No 15 seeds Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic) and Janette Husarova (Slovakia) was a surprise given Erakovic andKrajicek's good doubles' form leading into Wimbledon.
The pair, who have played doubles together for years right through juniors, last week won the Den Bosch Open title in Amsterdam.
Benesova and Husarova were lethal at the net converting 80 per cent of the opportunities which came their way.
The loss means Erakovic, 20, can now concentrate on her second round singles match after beating Krajicek in her opening match.
She plays German teenager Julia Goerges who beat Slovenian 23rd seed Katarina Srebotnik in a marathon match yesterday lasting 220 minutes 4-6 7-6 16-14.
Erakovic is favoured to become the first New Zealand woman since Belinda Cordwell in 1988 to advance to the third round given her world No 53 ranking and Goerges' 102 ranking.
The two have never played each other.
A loss means Erakovic walks away from Wimbledon with winnings of nearly $58,000 including $13,670 from her first round loss in the doubles. A win against Goerges adds another $29,000 to the pay packet.
The match is likely to be played Thursday UK time.
