Tennis: Erakovic shoots up rankings

New Zealand tennis player Maria Erakovic. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Kiwi tennis No 1 Marina Erakovic has been rewarded for an impressive performance in the doubles at the Madrid Masters with a significant rankings boost.

After teaming up with Zimbabwe's Cara Black to make the final of the tournament, Erakovic has moved up more than 20 places to a career-high No 39 in the world. Erakovic sits 79th in singles, down from her career-best of 39 last year.

Rubin Statham was another New Zealander to enjoy a notable rise in the rankings, sitting at a career-high No 152 in the doubles and No 309 in the singles.

Statham has qualified for the singles main draw at the US$75,000 challenger tournament in Busan, Korea, and he will likely break in the top 300 in the world after his qualifying win over local Seong-Chan Hong.