Molik aims for top spot - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Molik aims for top spot

By Adrian Proszenko 14/02/2005 08:02:08 PM Comments (0)

World No.10 Alicia Molik has turned her back on Australia's Federation Cup tie against India in a quest to become the world's top-ranked women's player.

Molik was a glaring omission from the Australian squad announced on Monday for April's Asia/Oceania Zone Group One Fed Cup tie in New Delhi, the first step in a long quest to again rejoin the World Group.

New Fed Cup captain John Alexander has given Molik his blessing to miss the tie and instead put all of her energies into becoming the world No.1.

"By agreement, Alicia is not going to play this first match," said Alexander, who hinted Molik could achieve the feat by the middle of the year if she held her current form.

"Alicia has a real opportunity to achieve a number one world ranking.

"She has a particular schedule designed to do that. The Fed Cup is an awkward date and with the geographical location for this first event it really would have stuffed up the first part of her year."

The first six months of the year represent Molik's best chance to make further inroads into the rankings, as she has comparatively fewer rankings points to defend than during her white-hot finish to 2004.

Molik's manager, Pete Smylie, confirmed that her assault on the top spot will recommence at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, where she has the bye in the first round.

"She wants to take advantage of where she is now so as not to put undue pressure on herself in the second half of the year," Smylie said of her quest for rankings points.

"It's a chance to establish herself in the top 10, even top five in the world.

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