The former world number eight and Olympic bronze medallist will enter the tournament in great form, following finals appearances in both the Cliffs Esperance Tennis International and the Goldfields-St Ives Kalgoorlie International events on the Pro Tour.

Molik, who has returned to tennis this year following an early retirement because of elbow injury told The Advertiser that she was back on track.

“The elbow’s been 100 per cent, so that’s been great for me,’’ Molik said.

“I’ve been putting myself in good situations and reaching finals and semi-finals.’’

The elbow injury was not the first time Molik had to step back from professional tennis, with a middle-ear infection striking in the 2004-05 season, forcing her to put her career on hold and keeping her off the court for almost 12 months.

The Pro Tour, which has seen Molik travel all over the country, has allowed her to enjoy a vast variety of tennis tournaments in remote and regional locations for the first time.

“I’ve never played there, so it will be my first time in Bendigo,’’ she said

”But I’m excited to be getting back to Victoria and to Melbourne, so it will be good.’’

According to Molik, the Pro Tour events have been the perfect training ground to getting her professional career back on track and she has the Australian Open in her sights.

“It’s been fantastic preparation on the Pro Tour,’’ she said.

“I’ve been playing a match almost every day.’’

But Molik acknowledges that playing her way into the Australian Open in January and getting back to her career-best form will be a challenge.

“I’ll be playing in a wildcard play-off, so there are no guarantees and I’ll have to earn my place,’’ she said.

“You never know if you can get back to that form.

“I’ve just being staying physically active and playing as much as I can, so, hopefully, I can get back to that form.’’

Qualifying rounds for the Bendigo International hit off today at the Bendigo Bank tennis complex in Nolan Street.

The main tournament starts on Tuesday.