Tennis: Erakovic's future could hinge on French Open result

Marina Erakovic during the ASB Classic in Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

It might not be stretching it to think the long term playing future of Kiwi tennis number one Marina Erakovic hinges on what she does in Paris next week.

Although she won't describe her 2017 tennis campaign as a slump, the 29 year old Aucklander hasn't won a WTA Tour level match this year. Her ranking heading into Roland Garros is 143.

However the quirk of the rankings system has given Erakovic a lifeline. At the cut of six weeks ago for French Open entry, the Kiwi was ranked 107, just high enough to get direct entry into the main draw. It means if she can rediscover the form that has saw her reach the third round in Paris in 2013, she will be back around the top 100 by the time she hits the grass.

But it's a big if; playing just the one clay court lead in tournament to Roland Garros Erakovic lost in the first round of qualifying 6-4, 7-6 to Aleksandrina Naydenova in Nuremburg. The Bulgarian is ranked 238 in the world.

Erakovic is usually positive and upbeat, but acknowledged she may not be able to turn things around.

"You are right it hasn't been going very well at all. It's one of those things that happen. You work through it but I'm not going to tell you now it's going to change, I don't know it if it will change. I'm still working hard, I still enjoy playing tennis and I go out there and compete and that's all I can do." Erakovic said, shortly after arriving in Paris for the year's second Grand Slam beginning Sunday night New Zealand time.

Still, despite failing to win a main draw match in eight WTA tournaments this year, Erakovic is able to find a positive.

"I'm at the French Open, last year I was in qualifying, this year I am in main draw so not everything's exactly downhill. It's step by step and I don't know if things will change. I am a positive person but I have to take things a step at a time."

Erakovic has had some memorable wins at the clay court Grand Slam, most notably over the current world number 7 and then 16th ranked Dominica Cibulkova in 20013.

"Things can happen very quickly in tennis; a good result here can set me up for the rest of the year. I wouldn't call it a slump because I don't have anything to prove at this stage of my career. I have done a lot of things very well and am just riding out the wave. I think tennis goes in stages and I have a lot of good tennis in me so will see what happens," Erakovic said.

Erakovic actually thinks she's a better player now than she was when she achieved a career high ranking of 39 back in 20012.

"Absolutely I do, I wouldn't be playing if I didn't, I am a far better player than I was then and you can't really go back in time, but yeah I definitely still believe that I can make good results and I can have excellent days and make it as a tennis player."

Erakovic will find out her first round opponent when the draw comes out on Friday night New Zealand time. While the women's draw is being described as a bit of a lottery in the absence of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and possibility Petra Kvitova, Erakovic believes there is depth in the women's game, making predictions difficult.

"I think women's tennis is very strong at the moment and on any given day anybody can do well. For the players it's just a tournament and we are all in it to try to win and do our best."

She started working with new coach Wesley Whitehouse at the end of last season and as you would expect given her results there are plenty of areas she's working on.

"Mainly to build up more aggression on the court, attack a little bit more and use my forehand. The serve's a big one, trying to hit specific targets and use a bit more variety there. I'm the type of player that has a lot of tools, the slice backhand, heavy forehand, so it's kind of trying to implement the right ball at the right time."

Erakovic has had a distraction over the last few days after releasing an EP titled Incognito in March under the alias of The Mad Era.

The album was picked up by a magazine which gave it a solid review and she has featured on the WTA Tour website.

'It was purely accidental that it happened and it's been picked up. It's been a positive response and has been fun talking to people about it. A lot of people have known me a long time but they didn't realise I did this behind the scenes, so it's been a fun couple of days I guess."

Matt Brown will be at the French Open thanks to Emirates Airline