29 Apr 2016

Erakovic into top four in Rabat

3:51 pm on 29 April 2016

New Zealand tennis No.1 Marina Erakovic has advanced to the final four at the Rabat Grand Prix in Morocco with a straight sets quarter-final win over Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic.

Erakovic won the match 6-4 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.

It's Erakovic's sixth straight win, having come through qualifying, and she'll play 28-year-old Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens who is ranked 98 in the semi finals.

Marina Erakovic

Marina Erakovic Photo: Photosport

The pair have played each other once before, two years ago in Florida, when Erakovic won in straight sets.

Reaching the semi-finals was a major boost for Erakovic, who went into the tournament ranked 186th in the world, having struggled with injury and poor form in the past year.

The Rabat tournament is the only WTA event played in Africa and is a clay court event, which will help Erakovic as she heads into qualifying for the second major of the year, the French Open in Paris.