Molik is selected for Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia -- Alicia Molik and Peter Luczak have been given the task of trying achieve Australia's second success in the Hopman Cup mixed event in Perth, which starts on December 29.

Molik has an excellent record in Perth, where she has won 11 out of 15 singles matches, with Belgian Kim Clijsters amongst her victims.

However, the former world number eight Molik has had a difficult time since suffering an ear infection and has now slithered down to number 67

Tournament director Paul McNamee said Molik was hoping for better things in Perth.

"Alicia loves kick-starting her year at this tour and has done very well in the past," he said.

"She has had an up and down year and will be looking to do well in Perth."

Luczak, who was born in Poland and ranked at 77 in the world, will be making his debut in Perth.

The home pair will be amongst the outsiders and it will be a surprise if they repeat the triumph of Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic in 1999.

Other contenders include Serbians Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic, Czech Republic couple Tomas Berdych and Lucie Safarova, France's Tatiana Golovin and Gael Monfils, India's Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, and Argentinians Gisela Dulko and Juan Ignacio.

The two remaining teams will be the United States, with Mardy Fish's partner yet to be confirmed, and the winners of the Asian Hopman Cup, in Bangkok from November 8-11. E-mail to a friend