Top tennis star in Mount

Aspiring tennis players are learning tips from one of the best today as high profile New Zealand tennis star Marina Erakovic visits one Mount Maunganui club.

High profile New Zealand tennis star Marina Erakovic. Video by Daniel Hines.

Mount Maunganui Tennis Club's 120 under-18 members won the chance to have Marina grace their courts for part of the day, as part of Wilson Balls and Wright Sports-sponsored promotion.

Mount Maunganui rising tennis star 12-year-old Kalais Going was lucky enough to step on court and take on Marina in an exhibition match alongside club coaches Andy Donald and Peter Blow.

Although she will only be here for half of the day, Marina has been here before and says it is a pleasure to spend the day interacting with the community and witnessing how tennis spreads out in New Zealand.

As a young player, Marina remembers her excitement when professional tennis players Brett Steven and Michael Chang visited her club.

'It takes me back, it definitely does.”

Marina's advice to Kalais is to just enjoy what she is doing and to 'just play”.

'It's definitely sometimes hard work…but if she's really driven, to give it a good go as well.”

During her visit, Marina will work alongside the club's coaches giving personal tips too.

'I actually know one of the coaches Peter Blow – he did a few trips with me when I was a youngster,” says Marina.

'So maybe [I will] compare notes, see what they do, see how they approach things, and maybe just give them a few tips here and there from what I've seen overseas.”

Kalais is 'really excited” to meet her tennis idol for the first time after watching her many times on the television screen.

'It's going to be great. She's New Zealand's number one she's top 100 in the world.”

Marina, 26, is currently competing on the Women's Tennis Association Tour and grand slam events. Her promotional visit on April 13 coincides with a two-week break in NZ.

The Croatian-born professional has a career high WTA ranking of World No.39 for singles; and No.25 in doubles. She is the only Kiwi in the top 100 of the WTA and the Association of Tennis Professionals.

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