Alicia Molik has crowned the most successful month of her career with her greatest triumph - an Olympic bronze medal.

The unseeded Molik upset world No.3 Anastasia Myskina 6-3 6-4 to become the first Australian tennis player to win a singles medal at an Olympic Games.

The big-hitting 23-year-old was left in tears after finishing off Russia's reigning French Open with a signature ace.

"I'm not usually an emotional person (but) I have to say I cried after that," Molik said.

"But it was very emotional. The Olympics is something I've watched from a child. It was my dream as a kid to be an Olympian.

"I managed to be in Sydney. I have some fond memories of Sydney, but there's not too many people that have a medal to their name or wear a medal around their neck.

"My bronze will be something that I'm going to cherish for the rest of my life now."

Myskina, also 23, said she was simply unable to back up after losing an exhausting physical and mental battle against world No.1 Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals less than 24 hours earlier.

Myskina was in touching distance of the gold-medal match before squandering a 5-1 lead in the final set to go down 7-5 5-7 8-6 in an epic contest lasting two hours and 44 minutes.

"I wasn't able to recover because I think I gave everything last night. Emotionally, I was drained," Myskina said before praising Molik.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP