Molik demolishes wild card
From our wire services
14feb02
News Interactive
DOHA: Alicia Molik has shown no mercy to Moroccan wild card Bahia Mouhtassine,
racing to a 6-1 6-1 victory in the second round of the WTA Qatar Open.
But fellow Australian Rachel McQuillan lost 6-3 6-3 to Slovakian Maja Matevzic.
Molik, who ousted the third seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario on Tuesday, made a tentative
start but soon caught fire to put the Moroccan out of the tournament in just 44
minutes.
"I was a bit nervous in the start but soon found my rhythm," said the
Adelaide-born Molik.
She forged ahead 3-1 with a break in the fourth game of the first set and never
looked back.
Mouhtassine's smooth groundstrokes got no support from her rather weak serve and
she was down by two breaks after the sixth game.
This put the 152nd-ranked Moroccan under immense pressure, taking a toll on her
game and confidence.
"I watched her play on centre court yesterday as her match was before mine.
But today I just played to my strengths and picked up from yesterday," said
Molik.
Molik, ranked 54 on the Tour, picked up from where she left off in the second
set to whisk the first and third games from Mouhtassine and opened up a yawning
4-0 lead.
Molik's game revolved around her big serve and she pocketed the sixth and seventh
games without losing a single point to advance to the third round.
"My goal in 2002 is to improve my ranking since it has slipped from 47,"
said Molik.
Meanwhile Thai sensation Tamarine Tanasugarn also advanced into the third round
with an easy 6-2 6-3 win over Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands.
1st rd
Selima Sfar (Tun) bt Tina Pisnik (Slo) 6-1 6-2
Janette Husarova (Svk) bt Angelique Widjaja (Ina) 6-4 6-2
2nd rd
Alicia Molik (Aus) bt Bahia Mouhtassine (Mar) 6-1 6-1
Maja Matevzic (Slo) bt Rachel McQuillan (Aus) 6-3 6-3
Anastasia Myskina (Rus) bt Petra Mandula (Hun) 6-3 6-0
4-Tamarine Tanasugarn (Tha) bt Kristie Boogert (Ned) 6-2 6-3.