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The local favourite, who dropped off the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour last March with a hip injury, teamed with Slovenian Polona Hercog, and the fledgling combination had their chances against the world''''s top-ranked pair of Carla Black (Zimbabwe) and Liezel Huber (USA).

The wildcards were up 3-0 in the second set and even when their opponents got their noses ahead in the tiebreak, refused to bow down without a fight. In the end, though, the combined and individual experience of Black and Huber saw them through.

Erakovic insisted she and Hercog were not daunted by their formidable KIA Motors Doubles draw.

"I have a lot of confidence playing with a couple of top teams before and actually beating both of them," she said afterwards. "I know they play very solid percentage tennis ... they return well, serve well and have very good eyes at the net.

"If I have a good partner with me - and Polona is a good player - I know we have a chance against anyone."

While the result did not go her way this time, Erakovic hopes it has helped prepare her for opening singles match against Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.

"I''''ve been playing really well lately and practicing well," she said. "I know her ... I''''ve seen her play a few times before.

"She has beaten some good names ... she''''s an up-and-comer from France, who moves well and has a good head on her shoulders.

"It will be a good match."

Expect to seen fireworks from the start as Erakovic hopes to bring a new element to her play.

"It won''''t be rocket science ... I''''ll be trying to play aggressive, play my game.

"But something I have been working on is moving quicker around the court. If you look at the top girls, that''''s something they do very well and something I want to improve on."