1 Jun 2013

Tough 3rd round clash for Erakovic at French Open

5:47 pm on 1 June 2013

The New Zealand tennis number one Marina Erakovic is looking to progress further at a Grand Slam tournament than she's ever gone before when she lines up against American Sloane Stephens at the French Open tonight.

Erakovic won the only previous clash between the two players in Memphis last year and while she's feeling confident after knocking out the 16th seed Dominika Cibulkova in the second round, the 25-year-old Aucklander knows that Stephens, the 17th seed, will be a tougher opponent in Paris.

Erakovic says Sloane is a talented player who hits a good ball and moves well.

If the Aucklander can win tonight she's on course to meet the defending champion Maria Sharapova for a place in the last 16.