"I have had no major injury problems and I have tried to focus on the next game rather than on season goals or my ranking."
Beating Azarenka (now No 3 in the world) was important in her rise up the rankings.
"A win against a player like that gives you confidence and it means that when I play top 10 players, I know I can win. It was a big stepping stone for me."
Despite being bundled out of the ASB Classic singles early, Erakovic says her year improved as she got more match practice.
"I played the US$25,000 ITF tour in the US and I managed to get some tennis under my belt and gain confidence as a result. That was the key for me - just getting more tennis."
Those closest to Erakovic suggest another reason for her improvement.
"What I have noticed is that Marina has grown up this year," her mum Ljiljana Erakovic, a senior lecturer at Auckland University's Business School, says. "I spent three weeks with her at Wimbledon this year and I noticed a big change in the way she managed things."
Ljiljana, who does not normally travel with Erakovic and is the polar opposite of the pushy tennis parent, noticed in particular a change in her daughter's focus.
"We would get up in the morning and she would let us know when she was practising, when she was having down time. There was no doubt who was in charge of her career and what she needed to do."
Ljiljana points to her daughter's relationship with her coach Christian Zahalka as a sign of Erakovic's growing maturity.
"They have a professional relationship and Marina listens to what he has to say - but it is an equal relationship. In the past, she was perhaps more like a puppy and following, while now, she is in charge."
National team coach Marcel Vos, who travelled with Erakovic for a handful of tournaments in 2007-08, believes New Zealand's No 1 has shown enormous character and purpose to almost return to her 2008 world ranking.
"It's great for Marina and it is great for tennis in New Zealand. I think a big reason for her return has been the fact that she has been in the top 50 before and she knows that she is well and truly capable of playing at that level. She has a great slice and serve and a big forehand that can rattle the best players in the world. She is an intelligent person but she is also an intelligent player, which is not always the same thing in tennis.
"I can certainly see her as a top 20 player in doubles. In singles? Who knows? She's still young and if she remains injury-free and keeps beating top 10 players, then she can go a lot further."
Marcel says that Erakovic's success this season is an inspiration to many other youngsters playing the game in this country.
"What Marina has done is show that it is possible to be based in New Zealand and still achieve on the world circuit."
As well as playing internationally, Erakovic is studying economics through Massey University. She is a ferocious reader and ultimately wants to study medicine. Family and friends remain incredibly important to her. She has passion in her voice when she talks about coming home in the next few weeks.
She will take a well-deserved break on returning home before beginning to prepare for 2012. She will again start her season at the ASB Classic. She says that in 2012, she will use the same approach that she has this season: one game at a time and try and build momentum. While to some, her life may appear high-flying, the reality can be different.
"I don't think people back home understand [how tough this life is]," she says laughing. "When I come home, people tell me they think I must lead a glamorous life and that I must make a lot of money. They don't realise that I have a lot of expenditure and that it is often hotel to court to hotel. It is a business and it is very tiring. Still, there is nothing I would rather be doing."
