Australia's No.1 female player Alicia Molik is in some doubt for the Australian Open after retiring with a foot complaint at the Hopman Cup.

Molik was the second player at the tournament to suffer a potentially seriously foot injury after world No.2 Kim Clijsters damaged her ankle.

World No.36 Molik was leading Daniela Hantuchova by a set and 3-0 when she pulled out of the clash in Perth because of foot trouble.

The full extent of the injury is not yet known, but it was to the same foot which finished her 2003 season.

It caused the big-serving Molik to retire in Luxembourg against American Chanda Rubin in October and was just her third match since the European event.

It is unsure whether Molik's injury will have a bearing on the make-up of Saturday's Hopman Cup final after Australia qualified from group B.

Hantuchova said Molik told her after the match it was the same foot she had problems with late last year.

"She had an injury already last year and before it happened to her she had the same feeling now so I guess she didn't want to aggravate it too much," the Slovakian said in a courtside interview.

"Before such an important tournament like the Australian Open you do not want to risk anything."

The timing could hardly have been worse for Molik who has been sparkling form at the mixed teams event.

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