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Rising New Zealand tennis star Marina Erakovic says today's loss to former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals of the Memphis International tournament was a "learning curve" at the end of a great week.
Erakovic's play in the US$175,000 ($216,933) tier 3 WTA event will see
her world ranking soar, elevating her from her current career-high ranking of 125 into the top 100.
This would grant her access to more top level tournaments and entry into the grand slams without having to pre-qualify.
By making the Memphis semifinals, she had picked up another 65 ranking points and a cheque for US$7700 ($9545).
Speaking by phone from Memphis after the 0-6 3-6 loss Erakovic, who turns 20 on March 6, said she was disappointed but was taking positives from today's match.
"A loss is a loss, but a loss to a former number one isn't too bad," she said.
"I'm still a little disappointed but then again I feel like it's been a great week."
Having come through qualifying and making it to the semifinals was a good achievement.
" I'm happy with where my tennis is at at the moment," she said.
" I'm really happy that I had this match, so for me it was really ... a bit of a learning curve and I think it's what I needed, I think it's what I can look back on and evaluate and see where I can go on from here."
She would examine Davenport's play " and see well maybe what I could have done better, learn from her - what did she do, what makes her so good - and then move on from there."
Erakovic felt she had played as well today as earlier in the tournament but every opponent was different.
" With Lindsay you get one shot in the point, in the rally and it's usually you've got to start off with that first ball and if you don't do something with it the point is finished.
"It was tough ... indoors is her favourite surface and she's got a huge serve and you've really got one chance - you make the serve or she hits a winner or hits an ace, so it's tough you know."
Davenport was playing in her first WTA event on US soil in two years. The former No 1 returned to tennis last September after an 11-month absence to have a baby.
Erakovic was pleased with aspects of her game, her backhand down the line shots were effective and she served well.
"Sometimes I've come up with shots that I surprised myself really," she said.
"There's definitely positives there."
After the match Davenport said Erakovic had had a great tournament.
"I think she's got a lot of potential. I think after qualifying and playing a lot of rounds here she is maybe a little bit tired, but she has a big game, she has a lot of variety and I think if she keeps improving she'll do well."
Erakovic said her success this year, beginning with making the semifinals of the ASB tournament in Auckland in January, resulted from a lot of hard work and training towards the end of last year.
"I think I'm in a good place mentally as well and I think that helps a lot."
She was optimistic about the future and felt she had enough power in her game to compete at the top level.
" I don't know how tall Lindsay is, and her wingspan's pretty big and she can hit the ball - but power doesn't come only from size," she said.
" I definitely think that in a few years I'm very optimistic, I think I'll be playing much better and I still have a lot of things to improve and I'm pretty satisfied."
Meanwhile, she was thrilled to be breaking into the top 100.
"It's been a goal of mine for the last year and a bit so I'm very satisfied that it's happened and hopefully I can work on from here and probably play the grand slams and that will be fantastic."
In the other semifinal Olga Govortsova of Belarus beat Israel's Shahar Peer 6-3 3-6 6-4.
- NZPA
