Tennis: Erakovic misses out in Japan semifinal

Marina Erakovic's hopes of winning a US$50,000 ITF women's tennis event in Japan ended in semifinal defeat.

The 17-year-old Aucklander, who had progressed to the last four from qualifying, was beaten by Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinal. Chan is ranked No 313 in the world, 17 places higher than Erakovic.

In the final, Chan beat Japan's Ayumi Morita, ranked No 643, by the same scoreline.