Monday 28th January, 2008 Bayliss wants players to mix Djokovic with opposition wins Aussie Open

little doubt where the rowdy crowd's loy- Trevor Bayliss alties lay - with underdog Tsonga, who has delighted the Melbourne Park fans Sri Lanka’s coach Trevor Bayliss with his ebullient personality and go-for- will encourage his players to head Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the final of the Men's singles at the Australian Open tennis broke style. into the Australian dressing room tournament. A portrait of Ali, a racket sketched in during the three-nation one-day one hand, was taped to a wall, and series to avoid a repeat of the race MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Novak Wilander in 1985 to win the Australian my box, who've supported me all the way Tsonga sprinted onto the court for row that marred the Sydney Test. Djokovic took the expected barrage from title and the first man from Serbia to win through, not just these two weeks, all the warmups. The Sri Lankans began their Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first set, then a major. way in my life," Djokovic said. "Thank Djokovic, who had complained after preparation for the series at the SCG gave back some of his own to make the Tsonga, who had been so aggressive you very much, I love you." his semifinal victory over Federer that nets yesterday and will tune up with Australian Open his first Grand Slam earlier in the tournament, seemed more His father, mother and two younger he had to fight two opponents because of a match against Bankstown. title. content to rally from the baseline, espe- brothers wore white tracksuits and sat in the overwhelming support for the Swiss Bayliss believed the "Bollyline" No. 3-ranked Djokovic fended off cially after getting passed several times. order with letters on the front spelling out star, was at it again, frequently turning affair was an isolated incident but Muhammad Ali lookalike Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, "He was very dangerous," Djokovic Djokovic's nickname, Nola. toward a pocket of chanting Serbian fans was keen for his team to socialise 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the final on Sunday night, said. "I was aware of that fact, but I was "Second of course Jo. Unbelievable to get them fired up after he fired win- after matches to diffuse any tensions. ending a sequence of 11 straight majors trying to stay with him because I knew tournament and you should be proud of ners. "Certainly not, quite the opposite won by either Roger Federer or Rafael sooner or later, with my style of game, I yourself - if he won tonight it would be Both men looked tight at first, drop- actually," Bayliss said when asked if Nadal since Marat Safin's triumph here could get in control of the match, which I absolutely deserved, so well done for his ping their first service games before set- there was similar tension with in 2005. did in the middle of the second set." success." tling in. Australia during their Test series. The 20-year-old Djokovic had not lost a As well as Tsonga, he had to overcome Djokovic, who has had a hot and cold Tsonga suddenly picked up his game "The two teams got on well and set in six matches leading into the final, cramps. relationship with the Melbourne Park when it appeared the first set was headed from my point of view I made an including his semifinal win over two-time Djokovic got treatment on the back of crowd, won them back over again in his for a tiebreaker. He blasted three aces to effort for our blokes to go into the defending champion Federer. his left thigh while holding for a 3-2 lead post-match speech. take a 5-4 lead, then came up with two change rooms after Test matches to But with unseeded Tsonga coming out in the fourth set, then fended off a break "I know the crowd wanted him to win great shots to break Djokovic. get to know some of the Australian swinging like he did in his straight-sets point while serving at 5-5. more," he said of Tsonga. "That's OK, it's Serving at 30-30, Djokovic had an easy guys. upset over No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals Wanting to finish it off quickly, he all right. I still love you guys, don't worry. overhead, but didn't do enough with it. "They certainly did that and it and three other top 14 players, that streak raced through the tiebreaker - with some "I'm very, very happy that I won my Tsonga ripped a forehand crosscourt was very good in the field and also came to a sudden end. help from Tsonga, who double-faulted to first Grand Slam here, so hopefully we'll passing shot for a winner, then raised his afterwards in the dressing room. The The 20-year-old Djokovic rebounded in make it 5-1 and then sent a running fore- see you here on this stage a lot more often racket and roared with the crowd. other two teams can have all the the second and third sets and after saving hand long to give Djokovic four champi- in the future." Another good forehand winner fin- attention and hopefully that will a crucial breakpoint in the fourth, domi- onship points. Tsonga, ranked 38th coming into his ished off the set, and Tsonga went down allow us to play good ." nated the tiebreaker to clinch his first He only needed one as Tsonga hit a fifth major, will move up to No. 18 after on one knee to pump his fist before danc- Bayliss didn't expect any ill feel- major at his 13th attempt. forehand wide. advancing past the fourth round for the ing over to his chair to a standing ovation. ings from the India-Australia Tests to "You feel the expectations and pres- Djokovic fell on his back, then got up first time. Djokovic refused to crumble. He never spill into the shorter form of the sure, so I'm very happy with the way I to shake hands with Tsonga and put his He was aiming to be the first faced a break point in the second and game. dealt with the pressure," Djokovic said. arm around the Frenchman. He got on his Frenchman in 80 years to win the third sets, yielding only 10 points in his "We're not too concerned about "Coming on against a player with nothing knees and kissed the court, shook hands Australian title and the first to win any nine service games. what's gone on there," he said. to lose - he was going for the shots and he with his family, then tossed two rackets of the four Grand Slams since Yannick Djokovic said he didn't know where he "It looks like those two teams have was very dangerous, especially in the first into the stands before burying his face in Noah's win at Roland Garros in 1983. would go next, but planned to spend a cou- gotten over it. It's one of those things set - I was pretty nervous." a towel. Rod Laver Arena was packed and ple of weeks enjoying the celebrations. that happen in cricket every now and Djokovic was the youngest player "First, before I thank everybody in awash in red, white and blue, the nation- "It's my first major, but it's just the then and is pretty quickly forgotten." since Stefan Edberg defeated Mats this world, I want to thank everybody in al colors of both countries, but there was start of a long season," he said. The tourists have brought just one specialist spinner, , in a squad with six quicks. SL under-19 suffer nine loss Bayliss said the Aussies will be 2008 Australian even harder to beat following their shock loss in Perth. Open champions by Reemus Fernando for Sri Lanka was hit for 23 runs at 37 for 6. While Imesh Udayanga "Knowing Australia, when they're Sri Lanka Under-19 slumped to in his fourth over as Akmal cut was lbw for 11 runs Angelo Perera not quite playing as well as they a massive nine wicket defeat as loose hitting him all over the park. was lbw without scoring. [can], it means they come into the MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - 2008 Australian openers Ahmed Shehzad with an Sri Lanka suffered a huge set- After the early slump, Ashan next game or two wanting to prove Open champions: unbeaten 90 runs and Umer back when left arm paceman Priyanjana and Sachith Pathirana something. Men's Singles - Novak Djokovic (3), Serbia Akmal with a blazing half-century Chathura Peiris got injured while did repair work taking Sri Lanka "If anything, it's going to be Women's Singles - Maria Sharapova (5), Russia guided Pakistan to their second trying to stop a hard hit stroke off beyond three figures. Pathirana tougher." Men's Doubles - Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram victory over hosts in the tri-nation his own bowling in his second scored a patient 31 runs in 63 Bayliss said his own side had (8), Israel tournament match played at the over. deliveries while Priyanjana something to prove after their World Women's Doubles - Alona and Kataryna SSC ground yesterday. While Pakistan grew with a anchored the other end scoring 63 Cup loss to the Australians and a dis- Bondarenko, Ukraine Having posted 214 runs after a confidence boosting partnership, runs in 86 deliveries before being appointing performance in the recent Mixed Doubles -Sun Tiantian, China, and Nenad fiery opening burst from Pakistani Sri Lanka had no way to stop the run out by Umer Akmal. Test series. Zimonjic (5), Serbia, pacemen reduced hosts to 37 for flow of runs. The only bowler to He departed with the score on "I suppose they have something to Legends Doubles - Wayne Arthurs and Richard six at one stage, Sri Lanka were pick up a wicket for them was 136 for eight and at that stage it prove after the Test series here. We Fromberg, Australia never in the mood to avenge their Sachith Pathirana, who bowled looked like Sri Lanka won’t go didn't play as well as hoped, especial- Legends Mixed Doubles - John Alexander and first defeat suffered at Colts his full quota of ten overs for 40 pass 200. But the Joe-Pete combi- ly with the bat." Rachel McQuillan, Australia Grounds last week. Their chances runs. nation of and Boys' Singles - Bernard Tomic (5), Australia of defending the modest total soon Put to bat first Sri Lankan top Chathura Peiris put on a defiant Girls' Singles - Arantxa Rus (14), Netherlands evaporated as the Pakistani open- order had no clues to how to nego- ninth wicket stand of 76 runs. W. Indies reaches Boys' Doubles - Hsieh Cheng-pent and Yang ers put on a haughty first wicket tiate the fierce opening burst of While Peiris scored 24 Thisara Tsung-hua, Taiwan stand of 141 runs. With just Mohammad Amir who wrecked added life to the Sri Lankan camp 252-7 against S. Africa Girls' Doubles - Ksenia Lykina and Anastasia aggressive opener Akmal depart- havoc picking up three in hitting an aggressive 47 runs in 45 Marlon Samuels was dismissed for 98 Pavlyuchenkova (1), Russia ing for 75 runs, Pakistan cruised his first over. He had Dilshan balls. His knock included one four on the last ball of the West Indies Men's Wheelchair Singles - Shingo Kunieda, to victory with 13 overs to spare. Munaweera bowled for a duck and and two powerfully hit sixes over innings on Sunday after leading his Japan While Akmal scored eight Kushal Janith caught by wicket mid on. team to 252-7 in the third one-day inter- Women's Wheelchair Singles - Esther Vergeer, fours and a six in his 65 ball keeper Ali Asad in his next deliv- Scores: national against South Africa. Samuels needed two runs for his Netherlands knock, Shehzad remained unbeat- ery. Though he missed a hit-trick, Sri Lanka Under-19 214 all century with two balls of the innings Quad Wheelchair Singles - Peter Norfolk (2), en scoring 90 runs (9x4s) in 113 Amir had his third wicket in the out in 45.2 overs left, but his attempted pull off the last Britain balls to see Pakistan reach the tar- same over when he had Roshane (Ashan Priyanjana 63, Sachith ball by Morne Morkel was skied to wide Men's Wheelchair Doubles - Shingo Kunieda and get with out losing further wick- Silva lbw for four runs. His new Pathirana 31, Chathura Peiris 24, mid-on where he was caught by J.P. Satoshi Saida (1), Japan ets. ball partner Adil Raza had his Thisara Perera 47; Mohammad Duminy. Samuels hit seven 4s and four Women's Wheelchair Doubles - Jiske Griffioen The openers had no threat first victim in his very first ball Amir 4/45, Adil Raza 3/45) 6s. and Esther Vergeer (1), Netherlands from the Sri Lankan pacemen as when Dinesh Chandimal was Pakistan Under-19 216 for 1 Brief Scores: Quad Wheelchair Doubles - Nick Taylor and they scored aggressively reaching bowled. in 36.2 overs (Umer Akmal 75, West Indies: 252/7 (50 Overs) M. David Wagner (1), United States 50 runs in seven overs. Denuwan They picked up two more wick- Ahmed Shehzad 90 n.o, Umer Samuels 98, S. Chattergoon 52, P. Brown Fernando who opened the bowling ets to leave Sri Lanka struggling Amin 27 n.o). 35, J. Botha 2-29.

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