www.pgcitizen.ca | Monday, January 31, 2011 11 sports Djokovic joins exclusive club The Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic gave his old friend Andy Murray a sympathetic hug and a few consoling words, then got on McEwen knocks off with the real celebrations. Howard Djokovic walked to the middle of the court, tossed his racket into the crowd, then stripped OSHAWA, Ont. (CP) — Win- off his shirt and shoes and hurled them, too. nipeg’s Mike McEwen upset Glenn The 23-year-old Serb had plenty to celebrate Howard of Coldwater, Ont., 5-4 in after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over Murray in the an extra end to capture the BDO Australian Open final on Sunday night. Canadian Open, handing Djokovic’s second Australian title made him on- Howard’s rink its first loss of the ly the fourth active player on the men’s tour to curling event. win multiple majors. Rafael Nadal and Roger McEwen cemented the champi- Federer have had a lock on the men’s side, win- onship with a point on the final ning 21 of the previous 23, while Lleyton He- stone of the extra end after witt has two titles — the last coming at Wim- Howard stole one in the eighth. bledon in 2002. The McEwen rink took home “It’s been a fantastic tournament for me,” the championship trophy as well Djokovic said. “I don’t want to fly up to the sky as the $25,000 winner’s cheque. and say, ‘I am the best,’ or whatever. I cannot “That was awesome,” said compare to Rafa and Roger’s success.” McEwen, who finished the tour- He’s the most successful player so far in 2011, nament with a perfect 8-0 record. though, and that’s what counts right now. “That was a great game. “Certainly this will give me a lot of motiva- “Of course I had a chance to win tion for the continuation of the season, because it in the eighth (end) and I missed to win a Grand Slam at the start of the season is the easy shot, so I guess I had to the best start you can ask for,” he said. “It Novak Djokovic stretches for a forehand return against Andy Murray in the Australian Open men’s make the hero shot in the extra.” singles final. Djokovic won with relative ease, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. means a world to me. I’m still 23. I still have a AP photo McEwen’s rink earned its sec- lot of time to go.” ond victory in the Capital One Top-ranked Nadal came to Australia aiming even talking about playing doubles together. “You’re thinking too much. You’re worrying Grand Slam of Curling circuit, the to win a fourth consecutive major and complete “I understand how he feels. It’s his third final too much in your head,” he added. “It’s a men- first coming back in November. a “Rafa Slam.” He lost in the quarter-finals. and he didn’t get the title,” Djokovic said. “As I tal battle, definitely. Bottom line is that this is a Federer came in as the defending champion said on court, I really have big respect for him very mental sport in the end.” King’s son wants piece and lost to Djokovic in the semifinals. and his game, because I think he has everything That’s why he took his time to reflect after of Mets The loss for fifth-seeded Murray continued that it takes to become a Grand Slam champion.” winning a 38-hit rally in the 10th game with a NEW YORK (AP) — The son of his horrible stretch in Grand Slam finals — he He thinks the pressure on Murray to break brilliant backhand that forced an error to set up Martin Luther King Jr. is reported- hasn’t won a set in three tries, including losses the British drought may weigh the Scotsman set point on Murray’s serve. He closed his eyes ly interested in becoming a minor- to Federer last year in Australia and at the 2009 down. tightly, clenched his fists and let out a scream of ity owner of the New York Mets. U.S. Open. It also extended the long drought “It is in some ways a mental issue when you a satisfaction. The New York Post reported Sun- for British men at the majors that dates back to are facing a situation, playing the finals of a “Maybe there was a turning point in the day that Martin Luther King III is Fred Perry’s titles in 1936. Grand Slam, being so close to winning a title,” whole match, that 5-4 game,” Djokovic said. “I part of a bid that includes former Djokovic and Murray have been friends since Djokovic said. “Every time you get it there, you was a bit fortunate, kind of anticipated well Mets first baseman Ed Kranepool, they started playing each other at age 11 or 12, know, you want to win it badly, but some and read his intentions and played some great Donn Clendenon Jr. and television and often practice against each other. They’re things go wrong. shots and great moments.” executive Larry Meli. Clendenon’s father was MVP of the Mets’ 1969 World Series victory. Meli said that King, who runs Clijsters finally breaks through for Aussie crown the King Center in Atlanta, is com- ing to New York this week to meet The Associated Press Australian Open and seeing Monica Seles win The Bryans have held the No. 1 doubles rank- with Mets owner Fred Wilpon and many times. I think they used to go up into the ing the past eight years. They have also won his son, CEO Jeff Wilpon. MELBOURNE, Australia — Kim Clijsters be- stands. I remember her doing her speech there, the U.S Open three times and the French Open The Wilpons said Friday that lieves she’s now earned the nickname she had and it was something that I was just amazed by. and Wimbledon once each. they were looking to sell a 20 per for years in Australia. It seemed like such a fairy tale.” Clijsters didn’t win her first major until 2005 — cent to 25 per cent interest in the “I finally feel like you guys can call me ‘Aussie Li was trying to become the first Asian to win after she’d lost four finals. All the while, the Aus- team. The announcement came Kim’ because I won the title,” a teary Clijsters a major, and the final was far from a smooth tralian public regarded her as one of their own. after they were named in a law- said after beating China’s Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 ride. She complained to the chair umpire about And not only because she was once engaged to suit from the trustee trying to re- Saturday night to capture her first Australian the Chinese fans and was bothered by photog- Lleyton Hewitt, the Australian who won two claim money for the victims of the Open. “It’s nice to finally get it this year.” raphers’ flashes in the courtside pits. The out- Grand Slam titles and was ranked No. 1 before Bernard Madoff swindle. Clijsters lost the 2004 Australian Open final bursts from all over the arena were jarring. Federer began his run. Clijsters is laid back and to Justine Henin and lost four times in the “They shouted ‘finish her off!’ sometimes even resilient, and the fans in Melbourne noticed. This time, Celtics top semifinals. This was Clijsters’ fourth Grand when we were hitting the ball,” Li said through “In the past year people have been so sup- Slam tournament championship, but the first a translator. “I thought, ‘How can they do this?”’ portive,” she said. “They have been amazing Lakers apart from the U.S. Open. In doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan successful- and I really appreciate it. I always felt bad that I LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul “To win it in this way means a lot,” she said. ly defended their title, beating Indian stars (didn’t) give something back — once I got to Pierce scored 32 points, Kevin “This one to me, is the one. When I think back Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi 6-3, 6-4 the final and lost to Justine — and now I feel Garnett had 18 points and 13 re- on my childhood, I remember watching the for their fifth Australian crown. maybe worthy to be ‘Aussie Kim.”’ bounds with a large bandage over a cut on his head, and the Boston Celtics won their NBA finals re- Great Food! $ 99 match with the Lakers on Sunday, Bubba wins battle of lefties 6 overcoming Kobe Bryant’s 41 Great Prices! All Day, Everyday points in a 109-96 victory. The Associated Press Watson, who made clutch putts on Ray Allen scored 21 points for the final two holes for a 5-under the Celtics in the longtime rivals’ SAN DIEGO — Bubba Watson 67 and was sitting in the scoring Cheeseburger Special... first meeting since Los Angeles ral- tempered his celebration when he trailer at the end, oblivious to how lied from a late 13-point deficit for rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole played out. an 83-79 win in Game 7 last June, the final hole Sunday at Torrey “I don’t know how close he hit it. ending an exhausting series in Pines, knowing Phil Mickelson I don’t know what he made on the Freshest dramatic fashion.