Tennis: Erakovic starts well in French Open qualifying

Marina Erakovic. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Marina Erakovic has avoided the first obstacle in her path towards a second career appearance at the French Open tennis championship.

The New Zealander today won a tight contest against Croatia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round of qualifying at Roland Garros in Paris.

The 23-year-old prevailed 6-4 7-5 after dominating with her first serve and forcing 12 break points to book a second round contest against Japan's Kurumi Nara tomorrow morning (NZT).

Erakovic will need to repeat the form she showed against Tomljanovic to edge closer to a place in the main draw for the grand slam tournament.

Nara is ranked 132nd in the world, 35 places above Erakovic, who has strung together a series of wins on the lower tier International Tennis Federation circuit this season.

Erakovic has only once before appeared at the French Open, exiting in the second round in 2008.

- NZPA