Alicia Molik is through to the second round of the Moorilla Hobart International defeating Indian Sania Mirza tonight.
In front of a packed house at the Domain Tennis Centre Molik defeated the world No.56 in three sets.
Molik came out strongly in the first, putting Mirza on the back foot.
Going down an early break in the second set Molik wasn’t able to get back into the set as Mirza dominated across the court.
Roles reversed in the third set with Molik taking advantage of her opportunities and attacking the play, eventually triumphing 6-4 2-6 6-3.
“I’m very happy; I’ve never beaten Sania before so it was always going to be a battle,” Molik said.
“Finding myself 4-1 up in the third it was a pretty commanding position, took me a few games to settle and really close it out. I was pretty aggressive today and I think I reaped the rewards from continuing to play that way.
“I’ve been working on staying forward playing aggressive and playing my game. It’s no fun being dictated to, it’s better to be out there and really being aggressive, that was my line of thinking today whether I lost or won that was pretty much my game plan.
“It’s not a little comeback it’s a big comeback, starting from scratch again I’m 28 nearly 29 and I had to start from zero again, it’s not a half hearted attempt. I’ve been training all year and competing only the last three months. It just goes to show the tennis I have within is good enough to beat someone like Sania Mirza which is a good sign,” Molik said.
Molik will now meet No.5 Carla Suarez Navarro on Wednesday. The last time the pair met was in 2008 on clay in Barcelona with Suarez Navarro triumphing in straight sets.