Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro defeated local hope Alicia Molik 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 at the Hobart International, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Suarez Navarro, who beat Venus Williams in the second round at last year’s Australian Open on her way to the quarterfinals, had difficulty with Molik, who is making a comeback to the main tour this season after retiring in 2007.
“I ran around too much today, she has a very good serve,” said Suarez Navarro. “She is strong and very tall and for me that’s difficult.”
Suarez Navarro will play the winner of Wednesday night’s match between Australian Jelena Dokic and second-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel.
Molik, who received an Australian Open wild card, heads to Melbourne in a positive frame of mind.
“It’s been the best preparation I could ask for,” Molik said.
“Carla is ranked about the top 30 in world and to not just push her to a third set but be in a commanding, winning position as well 2-1 up and I had a point for 3-1 — so it could have been very different.”
Molik reached No. 8 in 2005.
“I felt like I should have won today,” Molik added. “I have certainly been playing well enough to win a match like that but it’s just the way it goes.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Belgian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens beat sixth-seeded Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 7-5, 6-2 for a place in the quarterfinals.
Flipkens will play Italy’s Sara Errani, who beat third-seeded Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine 7-6 (8), 6-4 Wednesday.
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