KEY POINTS:
The resemblance between the Marina Erakovic who steps out for her opening singles match tomorrow and the fledgling WTA debutant of 2005 is purely physical.
Back then, Erakovic had her home-town crowd in raptures with her win over Canadian Marie-Eve Pelletier.
The 18-year-old, who will play a qualifier
in the ASB Classic first round, has had a cluster of experiences to lean on since that day, and a series of victories to savour as she sets her sights on getting within touching distance of - if not inside - the top 100 this year. She is up to No 162, the fifth New Zealander to crack the 200 mark, after Belinda Cordwell, Julie Richardson, Pavlina Nola and Claudine Toleafoa.
Erakovic is on a new fitness programme and is working with former world No 25 player, Dutchman Michiel Schapers. She picked up a good winning habit, bagging ITF titles in the Netherlands, Melbourne and Beijing in short order in September-October.
And even though the ITF standard is below WTA, learning how to win matches that count is an important part of a player's development. The tall Schapers has been a significant help, working with Erakovic in the United States and Europe.
"He's very good. Most of the things he's helped with are tactical, where he's opened my eyes a little, and with my technique, so I've made pretty big improvements with him."
The Auckland teenager remembers the nerve-wracking aspect of her WTA debut two years ago. She's ready for a similar dose of emotions tomorrow where she's sure to be placed on the centre court.
"It's always tough, but you could say I'm a bit wiser, a bit more experienced. I've been playing with the seniors a bit more," she said. And her philosophy has matured as well.
"Two years ago I was just hoping; I wanted to have fun. This time I'm focusing a bit more on making results, thinking about my opponents and strategy a bit more."
Erakovic has not played a match since suffering food poisoning in Taipei in November. She's happy with her leadup, has been getting in plenty of court work and had a week's holiday on the Sunshine Coast to freshen up.
She is relaxed about which qualifier she draws when that is decided today , but whoever it is will be higher in the rankings than her. Erakovic knows that tipping over players listed ahead of her is a key to climbing the rankings. So a win tomorrow will give her ambitions for the year a decent kickstart.
The other New Zealander in the main draw - like Erakovic on a wild card entry - Te Awamutu's Leanne Baker, has drawn China's world No 80, and Athens Olympics doubles gold medallist, Tiantian Sun today in the opening match on centre court.