By Jilawatan

Alicia Molik will meet Indian Sania Mirza in the opening round of the Hobart International following the official draw this afternoon.

If Molik (SA) survives the match against the world No.57 she will be on track for a potential quarterfinal clash with fellow Australian Jelena Dokic (NSW).

Dokic has drawn a qualifier in the first round and has a possible match up with Victorian Olivia Rogowska in the second round.

Rogowska appears to have the toughest assignment of the Australian contingent, drawn to play second seed and world No.30 Shahar Peer (ISR).

Sophie Ferguson, the final Australian in the field, has drawn a qualifier in the opening round.

Tournament Director Michael Roberts said Hobart tennis fans will be treated to some fantastic match ups over the next week.

“With 17 of the world’s top 50 women in the field, not including Molik or Dokic, we were always going to see some fantastic matches at the Hobart International this year,” Michael Roberts said.

“With three former champions in the final round of qualifying, all with a chance of making the main draw, the field has the potential to get even stronger tomorrow and provide some interesting opponents for the players who have drawn qualifiers.”

The top half of the draw will see top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) take on the 2009 runner-up Iveta Benesova (CZE) in the first round.

Eighth seed Giela Dulko (ARG) will have a tough match against Hungry’s Melinda Czink, who pushed Justine Henin (BEL) to three sets in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International this week.

Main draw action gets underway tomorrow (Sunday).

Tickets starting at just $9.90 can be purchased through Ticketek, online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104, and at the Domain Tennis Centre.