Sport

Erakovic upsets former world number one

08:37 am on 1 July 2016

Marina Erakovic has upset former world number one Jelena Jankovic to reach the third round at Wimbledon.

Erakovic, who went into the tournament with a ranking of 149, beat the 22nd seed in three sets 4-6, 7-6, 8-6.

The New Zealand number one served well with an 80 per cent first serve success rate and played a high-risk game which came off with 46 winners and 43 errors.

In the third round she meets Spanish 12th seed Carla Suarez Navarro who she has played twice before, recording a win and a loss.

Erakovic's latest win will lead to a significant boost in her world ranking. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

It is the the third time 28-year-old Erakovic has reached the third round at Wimbledon and it will significantly boost her world rankings possibly moving her inside the top one hundred.

And it will give her some much needed confidence after a tough 12 months of injury and disappointing form.

"This year has probably been one of the hardest years I have ever faced. Coming back from a knee issue, being on the road for so many years - it's sometimes very hard.

"I'm very far away from home...and the last couple of weeks just getting through qualies (Wimbledon qualifying), getting through those little moments and hiccups, the fight has been really really good for me personally."

Women's second seed Garbine Muguruza, bidding to add the Wimbledon crown to her French Open title, was stunned by Slovakian qualifier Jana Cepelova 6-3 6-2 in the shock of the tournament so far, though men's second seed and British hope Andy Murray safely progressed to the third round.

The 13th seeded Spaniard David Ferrer became the highest-ranked casualty in the men's draw beaten in straight sets by Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Meanwhile New Zealand men's doubles player Artem Sitak has his Australia partner and former US Open doubles winner Julian Knowle have lost their first round match in straight sets.