SYDNEY, Dec 28: Australian Alicia Molik is set to return to the tournament where she won her first WTA Tour title in 2003 after receiving a wildcard on Thursday for next month's Hobart International.

The 170,000-dollar event, which is part of the Australian Open series, takes place from January 5-12 in Hobart.Molik became the first Australian woman in eight years to secure a WTA Tour title when she defeated American Amy Frazier in the 2003 final. This triggered Molik’s rise in the rankings with singles titles in Stockholm, Zurich and Luxembourg in 2004, and Sydney in 2005.

She earned a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and captured the Australian Open women's doubles title in 2005 with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Molik reached a career-high ranking of eight in February 2005 before an inner ear infection interrupted her playing career. “When I won my first WTA title in Hobart in 2003 it was the starting point for a memorable two-year run,” Molik said in a statement released on Thursday. “Hopefully, the Hobart International will be a springboard to an equally successful year in 2007.”

The tournament boasts 17 of the world's top 50 players, and seven-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.—AFP