She won't die wondering

Go Molik, go Molik
Go, go, go Molik

In a previous post, I predicted Molik in 3 tough sets. Clearly, Venus ain't the wrecking machine she used to be, while Alicia's in the form of her life. I was hoping for a good match, and on this hot, humid night in Melbourne, I wasn't disappointed.

9:20PM: After trading mid-set breaks, Alicia breaks Venus at 6-5 to take the first. A bit patchy, with several swings in momentum, but it's in the books as a one set lead for Molik.

10:14PM: The girls step it up in set #2, with punishing groundstrokes and the (very) occasional foray to the net. It's tight, and Alicia presses on, but Venus finally forces a second set tiebreaker.

• A nifty ace opens the proceedings. 1-0 Molik
• Alicia sends a lethal 132 kph forehand winner to the corner, consolidating her mini-break. 2-0 Molik
• Venus hits the net and Alicia attacks the let cord, hammering it home to the Williams backhand and forcing the error. 3-0 Molik
• Alicia draws Venus into the net on a backhand volley and then crosses with a forehand winner. 4-0 Molik
• Venus punishes Alicia with a tough forehand winner to the corner that Alicia just can't handle. 4-1 Molik
• Good forehand winner for Alicia. 5-1 Molik
• Alicia shanks the service return. 5-2 Molik
• With an inside-out forehand error, Alica concedes the point. 5-3 Molik
• A huge Molik kick serve is returned wide by Venus to bring up a match point. 6-3 Molik
• Venus dumps a backhand into the net for 7-3 Molik, and the match is in the can

10:23PM: Over in two (tough) sets, not the three that I predicted. Nonetheless, Alica is through to the quarters and a Wednesday night date with world #1 Davenport. When asked about facing Lindsay, Alicia said she'll go for her shots like she knows she can, and "not die wondering." I'm all over that philosphy!

I'm torn: I'm a huge Molik fan, but to see Lindsay win one more Slam before she retires at year's end would make me a very happy man. Stay tuned.