Vekic is Tabbed as a Star of the Future

Written by: Staff on 18th January 2013

Vekic is Tabbed as a Star of the Future

epa02538720 Australia's Alicia Molik returns to Nadia Petrova of Russia at their second round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on 20 January 2011. EPA/DAN PELED AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Alicia Molik has been named as Australia’s new Fed Cup captain after the 31-year-old beat an impressive shortlist of applicants for the post including current coach Nicole Bradtke, highly regarded former players Rennae Stubbs and Nicole Pratt, while Tennis Australia’s current Head of Professional TennisTodd Woodbridge also admitted late in the process that he might be interested in the job.

As it transpired the task of actually announcing Molik’s appointment on behalf of Tennis Australia was actually handed to Woodbridge who said: “Alicia has a wealth of experience at the top level and in Fed Cup and will be a great leader for this team.”

Bradtke will remain as Australia’s Fed Cup coach while Woodbridge will act in a mentoring capacity for the new captain and he added: “Alicia’s strong and recent involvement with the tour and Fed Cup give her a great perspective for the captaincy and her personality and leadership style will be an asset for the team.”

Molik, currently based in Perth and mother to a year-old son, will succeed David Taylor who stood down from the position because he felt a conflict of interests with his regular job of coaching the leading Australian female player, Samantha Stosur.

“Dave has left big shoes to fill and I am really inspired by the challenge,” insisted Molik, who won five titles on the WTA stage, reached eighth position on the world rankings, was twice a Grand Slam doubles champion at the Australian Open in 2005 (with Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova) and French Open two years later (alongside Mara Santangelo of Italy), and won a bronze medal at singles in the Athens Olympics, beating then world no.3 Anastasia Myskina in straight sets.

Molik’s professional career was halted in 2005 by a viral inner-ear condition that affected her balance, vision and energy levels. She returned to good effect but first announced her retirement from professional tennis in September, 2008 after repeated leg and elbow injuries.

“It is an exciting time in Australian tennis and we have the talent in this team to produce some great results,” insisted the player who returned to competition almost 12 months later and played on for another two years, taking her career earnings to more than $US 3 million.

Molik, who compiled a 12-15 win-loss record in singles over 22 Fed Cup ties from 1999, does not have long to settle into her post. Her first match in charge of the Australian team will be away to Fed Cup holders the Czech Republic in Ostrava just three weeks from now.

“Of course we go in underdogs, but undaunted. These girls showed against Germany in Germany last year that they are capable of playing wonderful tennis and winning ties that no one expects them to win,” she said.

“I am fortunate to be able to come into the position while being able to work with both Nicole and Todd. I can’t wait for our first training session.”

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Alicia Molik, Australian Open, Australian tennis news, Fed Cup, Nicole Pratt, Rennae Stubbs, Sports, Tennis