Tennis: Path to Open paved with clay

New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic has plotted her clay path to next month's French Open. Erakovic will become the first New Zealander to contest a Grand Slam tennis event for more than six years at Paris from May 25 after shooting up the world rankings this year.

She was ranked 84th when rankings were taken on Monday, easily inside the top 108 who earn automatic entry to the main draw. Pavlina Nola was the last New Zealander in a Grand Slam, at the 2002 Australian Open. Erakovic is targeting two WTA claycourt tournaments in the leadup.