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Departing Billie Jean King Cup group captain Alicia Molik gave the job every little thing she had for a decade, and predicts a brand new technology will assist Australian tennis flourish.
Seville, Spain, 11 November 2023 | Ian Chadband (AAP)
Alicia Molik has bowed out as nationwide girls’s group chief, declaring that she gave the job every little thing she had for a decade – and predicting {that a} new technology will assist tennis flourish in Australia.
The 42-year-old former participant has been a preferred determine together with her group as Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain over a decade, as evidenced at this week’s event in Seville because the world’s No.1 doubles participant Storm Hunter was left tearful whereas paying tribute to her.
Molik’s Hunter-inspired aspect simply missed out on qualifying for the semifinals in Spain – a uncommon disappointment for Molik, who guided Australia to 2 finals throughout a reign persistently marked by her cajoling groups to be greater than the sum of their components.
“Girls’s tennis in Australia has been, from a group’s perspective, in a extremely sturdy place,” mirrored Adelaide’s Molik on her time on the helm after she bowed out with one closing victory over Kazakhstan on Friday.
MORE: Storm shines once more, however Aussies eradicated at Billie Jean King Cup
“Within the final 10 years, we went from having a No.4 on this planet in Sam Stosur to a No.1 in singles in Ash Barty, who began and completed her profession beneath my tenure.
“Now we now have one other No.1 in Storm Hunter (in doubles), and Ellen (Perez) has hit one of many highest factors in her doubles profession (at world No.17) as properly. It’s in an extremely wholesome spot.”
The present singles world rankings might not counsel that, with no Australian lady within the high 100, however stalwarts Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic have had injury-hammered years and there are 9 gamers ranked between 100 and 210, whereas Molik is especially energised by the junior expertise rising.
She talked about no names, however likely was considering of gamers like Emerson Jones, the 15-year-old Gold Coast participant who final month in Osaka grew to become the youngest woman from Australia to win one of many prestigious J500 junior titles since Barty.
“Within the subsequent few years, I really feel like we’ll have much more of our junior gamers within the senior group as a result of we’ve some actually nice younger abilities in Australian tennis. I feel they’re in a beautiful place,” mentioned Molik.
“However I don’t assume they want me any extra.
“I’m not going wherever. I’ll nonetheless be a giant supporter of those girls, as a result of they’re real. They’re superb associates of mine and I simply can’t wait to see what’s in retailer for them.
“However I’ve given it every little thing. I really feel actually content material transferring on, as a result of there may be additionally a subsequent stage for me too, and I’ve given every little thing I really feel that I presumably might have.
“For me, it was all the time a spotlight taking part in for Australia. Typically, it’s the reminiscences of Fed Cups and Billie Jean King Cups that stick in my thoughts the strongest after I take into consideration the Tour.
“Once I take into consideration all crucial or most pleasant instances that I had, they have been all the time amongst the group. A whole lot of enjoyable, humorous instances, I’m fortunate to have these. That can dwell on.
“It’s an actual privilege to be concerned with this group, as a result of I actually replicate on a whole lot of different nations, and I don’t assume that the relationships are as thick as what they’re inside the Australian group. It’s true and it’s trustworthy.”
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