All Alicia Molik can remember is the hug.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The kind of embrace which comes with relief and jubilation at the end of a couple of draining, tense hours.
Now the Fed Cup team captain and media commentator, Molik will return 16 years later confident Australia can achieve the same result.
Back in 2002, the Aussies had been knocked out in the first round of the World Group matches and had to qualify, against the Netherlands, in Wollongong. Molik had levelled the tie with a thrilling 1-6, 6-2, 10-8 victory over Kristie Boogert, then put Australia ahead in the reserve singles with a 6-2, 6-3, demolition of Miriam Oremans.
But teammate Evie Dominikovic had fallen in her two singles matches, meaning Molik and Rennae Stubbs had to win the doubles for Australia to earn a seat the top table again.
It took two nerve-shredding tie-breakers, but the Aussie duo held on at the WIN Entertainment Centre, the home of the Illawarra Hawks NBL club converted to hard-court for the tie.
“I just remember giving Stubbsy a really big hug,” Molik said this week.
“You’d have to tell me the score, I can’t remember that much of it.
“But I just remember it being a really close match and the excitement of winning the playoff in the doubles.”
Molik knows better than most the demands of Fed Cup. Before playing Wollongong in 2002, Molik had felt the force of Belgian superstars Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
The now 36-year-old played 22 ties and 39 matches for Australia.
Her challenge now is returning Australia to the World Group, revealing her three top-ranked players, Ash Barty and Daria Gavrilova and Sam Stosur have all declared themselves available for the tie.
Barty is ranked No.21 in the world, Gavrilova at 26 and Stosur is at 46, with the experience of winning the 2011 US Open and making the 2010 French Open.
“This is one of the strongest teams we’ve had for the Fed Cup,” she said.
“And with Ash and Dash doing so well and still young, hopefully we can ear our place in the World Group and go on and do well in it.
“Sam provides so much, she’s a grand slam winner, she knows what it takes.
“We’re coming (to Wollongong) to seal the deal.”
While the Dutch team is yet to confirm who will be available, Kiki Bertens is ranked No.29 in singles and 19 in doubles, while 25-year-old Richel Hogenkamp (ranked 104), 27-year-old Arantxa Rus (120) are leading candidates.
FED CUP
World Group Playoff
AUSTRALIA v NETHERLANDS
April 21-22, WIN Entertainment Centre
