Alicia Molik has bowed out as national women's team chief, declaring that she gave the job everything she had for a decade - and predicting that a new generation will help tennis flourish in Australia.
The 42-year-old former player has been a popular figure with her team as Australia's Billie Jean King Cup captain over a decade, as evidenced at this week's tournament in Seville as the world's No.1 doubles player Storm Hunter was left tearful while paying tribute to her.
Molik's Hunter-inspired side just missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals in Spain - a rare disappointment for Molik, who guided Australia to two finals during a reign consistently marked by her cajoling teams to be more than the sum of their parts.
"Women's tennis in Australia has been, from a team's perspective, in a really strong position," reflected Adelaide's Molik on her time at the helm after she bowed out with one final victory over Kazakhstan on Friday.
"In the last 10 years, we went from having a No.4 in the world in Sam Stosur to a No.1 in singles in Ash Barty, who started and finished her career under my tenure.
"Now we have another No.1 in Storm Hunter, and Ellen (Perez) has hit one of the highest points in her doubles career (at world No.17) as well. It's in an incredibly healthy spot."
The current singles world rankings may not suggest that, with no Australian woman in the top 100, but stalwarts Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic have had injury-hammered years and there are nine players ranked between 100 and 210, while Molik is particularly energised by the junior talent emerging.
She mentioned no names, but doubtless was thinking of players like Emerson Jones, the 15-year-old Gold Coast player who last month in Osaka became the youngest girl from Australia to win one of the prestigious J500 junior titles since Barty.
"In the next few years, I feel like we'll have a lot more of our junior players in the senior team because we've some really great young talents in Australian tennis. I think they're in a wonderful position," said Molik.
"But I don't think they need me any more.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be a big supporter of these women, because they are genuine. They're very good friends of mine and I just can't wait to see what's in store for them.
"But I have given it everything. I feel really content moving on, because there is also a next stage for me too, and I have given everything I feel that I possibly could have.
"For me, it was always a highlight playing for Australia. Often, it's the memories of Fed Cups and Billie Jean King Cups that stick in my mind the strongest when I think about the Tour.
"When I think about all the most important or most enjoyable times that I had, they were always amongst the team. A lot of fun, funny times, I'm lucky to have those. That will live on.
"It's a real privilege to be involved with this group, because I really reflect on a lot of other nations, and I don't think that the relationships are as thick as what they are within the Australian team. It's true and it's honest."
