Alicia skirts McEnroe issue

By PAT MALONE

27 August 01

Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIAN Alicia Molik wonders if she would say something to John McEnroe if she bumps into her self-appointed fashion guru at Flushing Meadow.

"I might. But he mightn't know who I am," said Molik, who was dragged into the headlines at Wimbledon when McEnroe said on television that she was wearing an "awful, tight little skirt" which must make it difficult to run.

"It was a bit tongue in cheek over at Wimbledon. I didn't mind much.

"I'm picking up my clothes from Nike tomorrow. I'm interested to see what they're like, but I don't think it will be much different."

After a 2000 campaign during which her world ranking declined, the 20-year-old South Australian has made encouraging strides from No.115 to No.70 in 2001, highlighted by a win over former Australian Open semi-finalist Chanda Rubin in Los Angeles last month.

"It was the best tennis I've ever played," said Molik, who is favoured to beat 16-year-old American Bethanie Mattek in the first round.

"I've been working on some aspects of my game and I'm travelling with physical trainer Scott Byrnes and he has me working hard to get me fitter.

"At the start of the year, I would have said my aim was to be (ranked) inside the top 50, and I've got no points to defend over the rest of the year. It's possible for me."