Molik Wins All-Aussie Final at WTA Sydney

"That was the toughest match I've played against anyone in the past 12 to 24 months," Molik said. "I didn't play my best today and I probably made it a bit difficult for myself but I was able to step it up a gear when I had to...My belief in myself is getting me through, I expected to win the title when I came here and I did."

Both Molik and Stosur played with strained ab muscles during the week, and combined with the three-set Sydney final are both looking shaky for an extended Australian Open run.

"As the match went on, it got worse and I can't serve 100 percent," said Stosur, who fought back tears while receiving treatment from the trainer in the second set, and was up a break in the second and final set.

Molik's hot streak includes wins in 28 of her last 32 matches, and the title comes on the tail of three trophy-raising efforts in 2004.

"If I stay fit, I'd be looking at a fourth round at the Australian Open because I haven't got that far in a grand slam tournament before," Molik said.

In the doubles final the Aussie pair of Bryanne Stewart/Stosur received a walkover win against (3) Elena Dementieva/Ai Sugiyama, with Dementieva suffering from heat illness.