Fed Cup coach Mark Woodforde has spoken of his disappointment with Alicia Molik's decision to put herself before her country and withdraw from this weekend's do-or-die tie with Thailand.

Molik, ranked 28th in the world, made herself unavailable for Australia's relegation playoff against Thailand to give herself a break from her hectic tennis schedule.

Her absence puts Australia at a greater risk of losing the vital tie and plummeting to zonal qualifying for the first time.

"We were extremely disappointed with Alicia withdrawing," Woodforde said before he left Wimbledon for Thailand.

"This is, in recent history, the most important Fed Cup match that Australia has.

"We're facing relegation into zonal play offs, we haven't been in that situation in I don't know how many years.

"Your No.1 player is at an all-time high with her ranking and coming from (the French Open in) Paris where she makes herself available to informing us two days before Wimbledon starts that she's unavailable.

"It's very disappointing."

Woodforde said he had no choice but to accept Molik's decision and promote world No.90 Samantha Stosur as her replacement.

"Alicia is happy to try and put it on the line for her team and the country but she has stated that it was a tough schedule with personal ambitions, as well as the Olympics, so we have to appreciate that," he said.

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