In-form Molik storms to second title in a week

LUXEMBOURG (AFP) - Australia's Alicia Molik, the second seed, stormed to her second title in a week with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian Dinara Safina at the 225,000-dollar (175,000 euro) WTA tournament here.
The 23-year-old from Melbourne, who clinched the Zurich title last weekend with a victory over Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, secured her third title of the year and fourth of her career against 18-year-old Safina, the sister of Russian men's star Marat Safin.
The Olympic bronze medallist got off to a slow start but gained confidence following a string of unforced errors from the Russian, breaking in the eighth game before serving out for the first set.
Molik, ranked 14th in the world, broke in the sixth game of the second set, and was never really bothered by her teenage opponent as she secured her second win in as many meetings with Safina.
She won at Zurich and Stockholm this year after winning her first title in Hobart in 2003.

10/31/2004 - 15:59 GMT - AFP