Tennis: Erakovic not fazed by strong field

Marina Erakovic. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Marina Erakovic is hoping to build on her comeback year with a strong showing in January's ASB Classic in Auckland but will have to negotiate one of the strongest ever fields in the tournament's history in order to do so.

A new coach, Christian Zahalka, and a more relaxed attitude have helped the New Zealand No 1 to a successful comeback from injury in 2011, when she jumped from a ranking of 324 at the start of the year to her present position of 61. The highlight came in September when she made the final of the Bell Challenge in Quebec City, her best result in a WTA event, and she's not far off her best career ranking of 49.

Her relatively lofty position means she qualified for the ASB Classic in her own right rather than relying on a wild card and already she's looking forward to playing on home soil.

"I really like it," she said. "It's very rare that a player plays a match and then goes home and has mum cook dinner and you go to your own bed. It's just fantastic to have the crowd for me and the support and friends come down and watch, it's a great experience for me."

The ASB Classic, which starts on January 2, features four top-20 players. The full field was announced yesterday and includes Australian Jelena Dokic, a former top-five player, and wild card and former world No 1 and seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams.

Defending champion Greta Arn of Hungary is returning, along with 2009 champion Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium and German Julia Goerges. With Peng Shuai confirmed, all four of this year's semifinalists - Arn, Wickmayer, Goerges and Peng - will feature.

Erakovic was philosophical when considering the strong field for 2012. "You're going to get a tough opponent no matter what," she said. "The first tournament is always tough on everyone, everyone's rusty. Anything can happen and it does usually. No matter who I get I'll go out and try to play my game."

She did it particularly well in 2008 when she progressed to the semifinals after a momentous three-set victory over No 1 seed Vera Zvonereva, who finished 2010 as the world No 2.

It's probably why Erakovic is relaxed about the prospect of facing Williams, who is also on the comeback trail following a long lay-off with illness. "She is a great player," Erakovic said. "She probably has one of the best serves ever so I'm glad she's coming down and hopefully she's fit and ready to go."

Erakovic, who lost to Williams in Miami in 2008 in their only clash, said the American's serve was something that she was ready for should she have to face it. "Sometimes when I practice with the guys, they have big serves, bigger than Venus. If you know what's coming you can get ready for it. But Venus isn't all about power, she can angle it off. She's very creative as well so it's a tricky serve but I'm not going to be standing up in the rafters or anything."

Dokic's decision to play in Auckland, instead of playing in the Brisbane International which is held at the same time, surprised Erakovic.

"It's strange she's coming over from Aussie, she's a great player as well."

She thought Dokic, who is also on the comeback trail, could be after a fresh start. "It's a change, sometimes if you play the same tournament over you can get stuck in a rut."

Dokic was slated to play in the ASB Classic in 2004 but pulled out late due to personal issues. In September this year she reconciled with her father and former coach, Damir, from whom she was estranged for eight years.