KEY POINTS:
She is only 16 but already trading blows with Martina Hingis on the practice court. Sacha Jones is a rising star but those close to her counsel against expecting too much, too soon in what is a planned and painstaking slog towards the top of world tennis.
It's
a path also being blazed by New Zealand No 1 Marina Erakovic, who describes the road as a lonely one - but at least the 19-year-old will have some company in Jones.
Erakovic, ranked 152 in the world, defeated Australia's Sophie Fergusson 7-6(5), 7-5 to win a US$25,000 event in Rockhampton, Australia last week. It confirmed the promise she showed as a youngster where she was fifth in the word junior ranks and won the US Open doubles final as a junior.
Fellow New Zealand representative Jones showed similar potential in September when she knocked out America's future big hope, Ashley Weinhold, on her way to making the US Open junior quarter-finals.
The world's No 22 junior has the ability to join Erakovic but wants to forge her own path.
"I definitely try to avoid comparisons because I want to do this my way," said Jones, who is based in Tampa Bay, Florida, for most of the year. "I have my own goals and my own focus. While other people will make comparisons I am just trying to improve as much as I can."
Like Erakovic, Jones cannot further her game in New Zealand in the same way she can at her overseas base.
Perhaps the best illustration of that was when she was privileged to spend a week playing and training with five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis. "She was very friendly and really nice to me," Jones said of the Swiss Miss.
"She is an incredibly intelligent tennis player and she helped me out a lot. It is great to play alongside someone like Martina because she is a legend of the game and in one practice session with her you learn so much from her experience and her shot selection. She is always thinking.
"You can't put a value on what I learned in that week."
Jones knows it has been a long drought for New Zealand tennis, but Erakovic, born in Croatia and raised in Auckland, isn't getting carried away with her win in the hot conditions.
"A win is a win," said Erakovic.
"But I have been playing with a lot of confidence, and having success at a higher level [than this win]."
Her success has seen her qualify for two WTA events, another wildcard for a WTA in Asia and the final rounds of qualifying for the US Open. In her second professional season, Erakovic is becoming comfortable on the pro circuit as she eyes a top 100 ranking.
"The final was a tough match but I just grinded away and I feel the experience of playing under pressure helped me in the hard moments."
Jones, who said Erakovic's win is great for New Zealand tennis, has renewed self-belief following the US Open juniors that saw her upset the American favourite and world No 5.
"I don't think I am too much of a confidence player," she said. "But winning the big points to beat those girls, subconsciously I think that makes a big difference."
Jones has an Australian father and has had numerous offers to play tennis for Australia but always knocks them back.
"I am a New Zealander through and through and if I can help New Zealand tennis players in any way, maybe by inspiring them a bit, that would be much more beneficial for me than getting the benefits you may receive in playing for Australia."
David Lewis, the new Federation Cup captain working closely with the girls when they are back in New Zealand, believes Erakovic and Jones (world rank 392) are sitting pretty for their age.
"Their rankings speak for themselves. They are progressing slowly and they are just waiting to strike," said Lewis before a practice session in Auckland with Jones.
Lewis, a Davis Cup player in the 1980s - when he was ranked 150 in the world - hopes to reduce the pressure of expectation on the pair.
"The likes of [Maria] Sharapova winning Wimbledon at the age of 17, the success Martina Hingis had when she was very young and Ana Ivanovic [19] at the moment who is fourth in the world - these girls are exceptions. You can't measure girls against their success. We have to make sure that we progress these girls steadily and have realistic benchmarks."
Lewis has coached plenty of talented youngsters and, aside from Jones and Erakovic, mentions other Kiwis Ellen Barry (386) Shona Lee (634), as being among the best.
"You can feel the intensity that they bring to the court, they really make you work," he said. "They are dedicated and it is their work ethic that, in time, could make them a force in world tennis."
Erakovic knows her goal for the future: "To break into the top 100 in the world, you need to start winning matches on the WTA and winning matches at the Grand Slams.
"That is something that I am very close to approaching."
Jones is making similar gradual improvement in reaching her goals.
"Some fast progress would be nice," she laughs. "It doesn't have to be slow. I am learning to be patient. In a year's time I would like to be playing WTA events on a regular basis."
Erakovic is about to head to Amsterdam for intense work with her coach Michiel Schapers. What does she need to get to the next level?
"The big players come up with the right shots on the important points. Often it is just about playing with confidence and having that self-belief."
Meanwhile, Jones is playing two $50,000 events in Chinese Tapei and a $25,000 tournament in Australia.
"Not many people know me yet so every time I play, there is no pressure on me. It is exciting for me because I have nothing to lose."
