Tennis: Studying future options

By DAVID LEGGAT

Marina Erakovic's thoughts this week were not on who she might meet in her debut match at January's women's international tournament.

More pressing by far are her school exams. Year 12 English, maths, classical studies and geography, plus seventh form biology and physics lie in wait from next Tuesday.

So how's the swot going for the 16-year-old Glendowie College pupil?

"It's going, kind of," she quipped. "No, it's going pretty well."

Erakovic could be forgiven for having her eyes firmly set on the glamorous world of international tennis.

After all, she's the No 10 ranked junior in the world, won the US Open junior doubles title with Dutch player Michaella Krajicek this year, reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and quarters in Australia.

The word is that Erakovic has the game to go far.

But the other whisper is that she is commendably level-headed, bright, studies hard when she's travelling the globe and has an eye on university studies, perhaps even next year.

Erakovic will be in the ASB Classic field of 32 for the first time, having been given the a wildcard into the main draw this week, and is relishing the prospect.

If she can win her first game she'll accrue WTA points, which might open the door to events on the senior circuit next year.

She will get into some anyway, as a result of being in the world top 10 juniors, so next year promises to be a mix of the junior circuit and a taste of the big time.

"There's going be a lot of travelling next year, so we'll see how it goes," the Croatian-born Erakovic said, adding that she wanted to get through the exams before deciding what to do about school next year.

"It's always good to see my friends. It's a bit hard to come back and there's no school. That's weird for a teenager."

Erakovic believes the gap between the top juniors and the senior tour is closing.

For evidence, she points to Nicole Vaidisova.

The Czech Republic player lost to Erakovic in the middle of this year, and is now world No 75.

Likewise, this year's beaten junior Wimbledon singles finalist, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, is now world No 98.

"There's a lot of girls out there already competing at senior levels. I'd say the gap is pretty small."

Erakovic will be at the four junior grand slams again next year, and hopes to join up once more with Krajiceck, the world No 1 junior, for the Australian Open junior doubles.

Erakovic is no one-teenager operation. She's quick to pay tribute to her 'team', mother and father Lilijana and Mladen plus longtime coach Chris Lewis.

"He's been with me every since I started playing tennis," she said of the former Wimbledon finalist. "It's a team effort with my family and him and he's had a major impact on my tennis. It's a great partnership we have."

The classic is an excellent way to start her year, although she's not getting carried away with it, to the extent of not even contemplating her first round opponent.

"To tell the truth it really doesn't matter who I play. I will go out there and try and play my best tennis and see what happens.

"It's a big event, but I've got a long way to go. This is just a stepping stone in my career."