Molik, Dokic challenge Australian women to step up

Former Australian Open quarterfinalists Alicia Moilik and Jelena Dokic are challenging the country’s next generation of stars to set up their 2018 seasons with breakout summers.

The Hopman Cup starting on Saturday in Perth is the first of five big Australian Open lead-up events before the Melbourne major gets under way on January 15.

While confident that big guns Ashleigh Barty, Daria Gavrilova and Samantha Stosur are ready to fire, Molik and Dokic are eager to see emerging teenage talents like Destinee Aiava and Jaimie Fourlis cash in on the local conditions and make their mark on the international stage.

“What an opportunity the Australian players have here, being able to train here, being used to the conditions, the weather, the courts, the balls and this is their opportunity,” Dokic said.

Aiava, who last year became the first player born this century to contest a Grand Slam event, will open her 2018 campaign at the Brisbane International starting on Sunday, while Fourlis has been awarded a Hobart International wildcard in the following week.

Fourlis earned her way into the Australian Open main draw with victory over Aiava in the final of this month’s national under-18 championships before Aiava won the Australian Open wildcard play-off.

“Everyone’s firmly fixed on first of all making a great start over the first few days of the summer,” Molik said.

“That’s critical: to start your summer on the right foot, to feel completely ready, because if your preparation isn’t done by December 30 or December 31 when the tournaments kick off, you play catch up.

“If you have two tough first round losses or bad losses, it’s really difficult to recover before a Slam.”

Molik believes the wildcard play-offs should have all of Australia’s “incredibly lucky” young stars “ready from the get go”.

“Everything’s laid on for them,” she said.

“Ball kids, umpires, linespeople. I mean, this is a replica of what a Grand Slam is.

“The conditions replicate exactly what you find in January.”

The former world No.8 believes last year’s experience will prove hugely beneficial for Aiava.

“She’s been there before and she’s much more comfortable. Last summer, everything was new,” said Australia’s Fed Cup captain.

Molik is expecting big things from Barty, Gavrilova and Stosur after the trio gave Australia three tournament winners on the WTA Tour in 2017 for the first time in more than 20 years.

“We’ve got so many players in really different positions to last year. We should be excited about it,” Molik said.

“Ash wither her ranking and having a seeding, Dasha winning a title, and it’s great for Sam as well because the spotlight’s off her.

“It’s the first summer in probably eight years where the attention’s been deflected to the other two or three, which is perfect for Sam.

“She’s always under the pump here. Everyone expects so much of her so she should be really enjoying it. I think she’ll be loving it.”