Molik crashes out of Sydney tennis tournament

SYDNEY—Local favourite Alicia Molik crashed out of the Sydney International tennis tournament on Sunday, dealing a blow to her preparations for the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.
Molik, a former world number eight who earned a wild card entry here, failed to overcome the steady play of Czech Lucie Safarova, who won the first-round encounter in two tiebreak sets, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (12/10).
Molik, who beat Safarova at the Hopman Cup just nine days ago, had her moments but failed to convert on the key points. “Some days I play great in patches, often some days I’ll be feeling the same as I did a couple of years ago but it’s just a little bit patchy at the moment,” said Molik, who won this tournament in 2005.
“It’s just a matter of playing at a higher level on a more consistent basis. “I don’t feel like I’m far from it — it’s maintaining it and not having these ebbs and flows that I’m having in a few matches.”
Molik was forced off the tour in 2005 after an ear infection threw off her ability to balance. She finished 2007 ranked at number 58. She was joined on the sidelines by fellow wild cards Nicole Pratt of Australia and Nadia Petrova of Russia.
Australian tennis officials were criticised for giving a wild card to Pratt, who at 34 is likely nearing the end of her career. She did little to prove the critics wrong, losing quickly to France’s Virginie Razzano, 6-2, 6-1.
Petrova lost in straight sets to Austria’s Sybille Bammer, 7-5, 6-3. France’s Amelie Mauresmo and China’s Li Na have withdrawn from the Sydney event, a key tune-up ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 14. Mauresmo cited an injury to her right adductor while Li, who captured the Australian women’s hardcourt title on the Gold Coast on Saturday, complained of a problem with her right knee.

—Agencies