Melbourne, 20 January 2011 | AAP

Wildcard Alicia Molik bowed out of Australian Open 2011 in the second round on Thursday, losing 6-4 6-1 to Russian 13th seed Nadia Petrova.

The Australian started well, breaking Petrova in the opening game of the match on Rod Laver Arena.

Petrova got back on level terms and broke again in the 10th game to claim the opening set with a forehand winner.

The Russian then turned on the power in the second set, winning eight of the last nine games of the match.

The 29-year-old Molik’s demise left Bernard Tomic and women’s fifth seed Samantha Stosur as the only Australian singles players still in contention at Melbourne Park.