Molik returns to Grand Slam Action

Alicia Molik makes her comeback to Grand Slam action tonight when she takes on American wildcard Shenay Perry. The pair has met previously on grass in qualifying at Eastbourne in 2004 when the in-form Molik was taken to three sets.

Molik went on to record her most successful year in 2004 and began 2005 in a similar vein, winning the Medibank International in Sydney in January to record her fifth career title, and reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open where she lost a tight match to Lindsay Davenport. In February, she reached a career high ranking of No.8 before a debilitating inner ear infection effectively sidelined her for five months and saw her withdraw from the French Open and Wimbledon.

At the US Open she has twice reached the third round (2001 and 2003) and last year reached the final of the mixed doubles partnering Todd Woodbridge.

Nicole Pratt takes on Akiko Morigami (JPN) against whom the Queenslander holds a psychological edge having beaten her in their past two encounters. However Morigami has been enjoying a run of form in recent months which has seen her move into the top 50 for the first time. Morigami reached her first career Tour final in Cincinnati in July, followed by her first Tier One semi final in San Diego earlier this month when she had to retire with a lower back injury.

The remaining Australian in action on day one is Victorian Peter Luczak who came through qualifying to earn a shot at former World No.2 Tommy Haas (GER). The pair has never met, but Haas was a US Open quarter finalist last year, where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt, and has reached the fourth round on three previous occasions (1999, 2001 and 2002).

This is Luczak’s first maindraw appearance at Flushing Meadows with 2005 having been his most successful year on the Tour to date. This year the Australian No.4 has reached the semi finals of events in Brazil and the Czech Republic, as well as making his Davis Cup debut against Argentina in July.

Australians Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Arthurs, and Samantha Stosur will begin their US Open campaigns on day two of play.