Molik through to Hobart final - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Molik through to Hobart final

By Don Woolford 09/01/2003 10:04:26 PM Comments (0)

Alicia Molik has won her way into the Moorilla International Women's tennis tournament final with a fluctuating three-set win over Czech Iveta Benesova in Hobart.

On Friday night, the Adelaide 21-year-old will bid for her first WTA title when she meets American second seed Amy Frazier.

Molik beat Benesova 6-1 4-6 6-3 in a rain-interrupted match in which each player took turns in domination.

After Benesova held her opening serve, Molik reeled off nine games straight.

At 4-1 in the second an easy win looked certain.

But the Czech left-hander suddenly found her radar with her punishing backhand and Molik's big serve went off the boil.

Benesova won five games straight from 1-4 to level the match.

The third was tight until, with Benesova serving at deuce and 2-3, rain stopped play.

The interruption seemed to change the momentum with Molik immediately breaking after the resumption and twice holding serve for the match.

Molik said that if she could maintain her form of the last two weeks she would have a good chance against the more experienced Frazier.

She said she would try to stay aggressive in the final.

"If I win I win and if I lose I lose," she said.

Molik beat Frazier in their only previous meeting, on clay in Madrid.

"But this is a different surface and Amy is in good form," she said.

If Molik wins it will be the first WTA title won by an Australian since Nicole Bradtke in Auckland in 1995.

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