Erakovic Wins Maiden WTA Title in Memphis

New Zealand's Marina Erakovic won her maiden WTA title at the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships.

By Erik Gudris

(February 23rd, 2013) -- The last edition of the 12 year WTA event in Memphis, Tennessee came to an abrupt end with Marina Erakovic winning her first ever title Saturday night at the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships.

Erakovic faced Germany's Sabine Lisicki in tonight's finals with their last meeting being in Pattaya City a few weeks ago. Erakovic broke Lisicki at love early in the first set and that allowed her to open up a 3-1 lead.

Erakovic kept her momentum going by breaking Lisicki again. She then closed out the set 6-1 by hitting four aces in a row.

After that, Lisicki abruptly retired from the match due to illness. That resulted in Erakovic winning her maiden WTA title in Memphis having reached the finals last year.

Erakovic is the first woman from New Zealand to win a WTA title since Belinda Cordwell did so back in 1989.

(Photo Credit: AP/Mark Humphrey)

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