Monday 31st January, 2011 Djokovic wins Australian Open BY DENNIS PASSA 2011 Australian MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Novak Djokovic hit passing Open Champions shots and looping lobs with equal perfection to overwhelm Andy MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday, Australian Open champions: winning his second Australian Men's Singles - Novak Open title and extending Djokovic (3), Serbia Britain’s near 75-year drought in Women's Singles - Kim men’s singles Grand Slams. Clijsters (3), Belgium Djokovic also won the 2008 Australian title for his only other Men's Doubles - Bob and Grand Slam victory. Murray has Mike Bryan (1), United States lost three Grand Slam finals, also Women's Doubles - Gisela falling to Roger Federer in the Dulko, Argentina, and Flavia 2008 U.S. Open and 2010 Pennetta (1), Italy Australian Open. Mixed Doubles - Katarina Djokovic had to overcome Srebotnik, Slovenia, and Daniel some big obstacles en route to the Nestor (2), Canada final, including a win over Legends Doubles - Todd Federer in the semi-finals. And Woodbridge and Mark this came just two months after Woodforde, Australia leading Serbia to its first Davis Boys' Singles - Jiri Vesely Cup title. (1), Czech Republic “We have known each other Girls' Singles - An-Sophie for such a long time,” Djokovic said about Murray. “It was diffi- Mestach (2), Belgium cult tonight.” Boys' Doubles - Filip About an hour after his win, Horansky, Slovakia, and Jiri Djokovic went out on a balcony Vesely (2), Czech Republic on the concourse at Rod Laver Girls' Doubles - An-Sophie Arena and lifted his trophy to Mestach, Belgium, and Demi hundreds of spectators as they Schuurs (6), Netherlands cheered below. Wheelchair Men's Singles - Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene bats during a practice session ahead of their first One-Day International against the West Indies in There wasn’t much of that in Shingo Kunieda (1), Japan Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011. (AP) the Murray camp: he’s still yet to Wheelchair Women's win a set in a Grand Slam final. Singles - Esther Vergeer (1), Last year, the Scot cried after Netherlands his loss to Federer. There were no Wheelchair Quad Singles - visible tears this year, but the David Wagner (1), United States hurt may have been just as bad after he lost seven straight games Wheelchair Men's Doubles Teams to use ODIs as - Maikel Scheffers, Netherlands, through the end of the e first set and into the second and never and Shingo Kunieda (1), Japan appeared to be in the match. Wheelchair Women's “I’ll try and keep it together Doubles - Esther Vergeer and this year,” Murray said, speaking Sharon Walraven (1), preparation for World Cup confidently and talking about Netherlands “having more chances in the Wheelchair Quad Doubles - future” as the crowd yelled out hey may have been denied Stadium. Andrew Lapthorne and Peter “Andy! Andy!” Norfolk, Britain an opportunity to play in Play starts at 9:30 am SLC on Thursday announced The last British man to win a TWorld Cup venues, but that the gate collection from the Grand Slam singles title was having played their last ODI Match officials of the three play was scheduled to start at games will go to flood victims. percent, on his second serve. Fred Perry in the 1936 U.S. Open - Murray and Djokovic, each series in November, the Sri ODI series between Sri Lanka 9:45 am, but Match Referee Sri Lanka (From) more than 270 majors ago. 23 and born a week apart, are Lankan cricket team will look and West Indies have decided Andy Pycroft has decided to Kumar Sangakkara “It was better than it was last forward to the three match to start play at 9:30 am on all start play at 9:30 am, Sri good friends and often practice (Captain), Mahela Jayawardene, year,” Murray said at his manda- together. At the coin flip before series against the West Indies three days to ensure bad light Lanka Cricket announced yes- Upul Tharanga, T. M. Dilshan, tory post-match news confer- the match, Djokovic smiled that gets underway today at the wouldn’t intervene. Initially terday. Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara ence. “I thought Novak played broadly for photos while Murray Sinhalese Sports Club grounds Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, unbelievably well. It’s tough, but looked fidgety and nervous. to get into the groove ahead of consideration they were forced binations he would be using Angelo Mathews, Thisara you have to deal with it.” After the match, the two the World Cup. to shift the series to Sinhalese during the World Cup tourna- Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Murray said he tried to get hugged, then Djokovic threw his himself back into the match, but It will be a crucial series for Sports Club grounds although ment. Sri Lanka will go in for Lasith Malinga, Dilhara racket, his shirt and then his Djokovic defended too well. the West Indies as well having the series was initially sched- the series as favourites, but the Fernando, Muttiah shoes into the crowd. But there played their last ODI series way “You always have to try to uled to be played at Hambantota West Indies proved to be formi- Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis was no prolonged celebration so back in June last year and find a way, to believe,” Murray and R. Premadasa Stadium in dable opponents when they and Rangana Herath. as to not offend his opponent. coach Otis Gibson before leav- Colombo. said. “When I got ahead in some “I understand how he feels, arrived for the Test series earli- games, even in just points, he ing the Caribbean indicated that To make matters worse, the it’s his third final and he didn’t er in November and gained the West Indies (From) was sticking up lobs that were the series will be a good warm- series will proceed without get the title,” Djokovic said. “As I major honours in the drawn Darren Sammy (Captain), landing on the baseline, passing up prior to the World Cup that’s international television cover- said on the court, I really have first Test in Galle where they Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, shots that were on the line. I three weeks away. age, probably for the first time big respect for him and his game, made Sri Lanka to follow on. Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, broke his serve twice in the third Ideally speaking, the Sri since Sri Lanka won the World because I think he has every- Incidentally, ODI cricket Shivnarine Chanderpaul, set and still lost 6-3.” Lankans would have preferred Cup in 1996 as the Interim thing what it takes to become a returns to SSC after an absence Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne The match finished in two to play their games at World Committee failed to call bids Grand Slam champion.” of five years as in recent times Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman hours, 39 minutes. The statistics Cup venues under lights, but from interested television com- The roof was closed at Rod Sri Lanka Cricket preferred to Benn, Nikita Miller, Kemar underlined Djokovic’s domina- Laver Arena for most of the day after the Cricket Interim panies for the series. play one-day cricket at either R. Roach, Kieron Pollard, Andre tion: he won 11 of his 14 service due to 100-degree temperatures, Committee bungled by failing to The series provides Kumar games, Murray only six of 13. Premadasa Stadium or Rangiri Russell and Ravi but was opened just before the take the ICC Host Agreement to Sangakkara to look at the com- Murray’s second serve was Dambulla International Rampaul. match started and after the pounded by Djokovic - Murray weather had cooled significantly. won just 16 of 51 points, 31 Japan lifts Asian Cup Bangladeshi beggars to be BY NESHA STARCEVIC circle and fired a sym- paid during WCup bolic arrow into the DOHA, Qatar (AP) - night sky over the DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) Alam added that he Japan won the Asian Khalifa stadium as a - A southeastern city in expects to meet with the beg- row of small fireworks Cup for a record fourth Bangladesh will pay local beg- gars' representatives on time when substitute exploded across the gars to stay off the streets Tuesday to discuss the plan, striker Tadanari Lee structure arch to cele- struck in extra time brate the goal. during next month's cricket which could also include free for a 1-0 victory over "We played the World Cup. food and clothes. Australia on Saturday. entire tournament Chittagong mayor Alam said he hopes to Lee slammed home with great courage and Manzurul Alam said Sunday allow the "tourists and guests" a left-foot volley in the always sought to that the city will pay about to move freely on the 109th when he was left impose our game," said 300 physically disabled beg- streets during the completely unmarked Japan's Italian coach, gars up to 150 takas ($2.11) a "prestigious" event. 10 metres (yards) from Alberto Zaccheroni. day. Beggars are a Australia's goal. Lee "We have a very young "Initially, it will continue common sight in team. had all the time in the for three months till end of Bangladeshi cities, world to perfectly time "The bench players his volley from a cross have made a big contri- April," Alam told The with an estimated by defender Yuto bution, just as Lee did Associated Press. "We are 700,000 calling the Nagatoma and fired it today." planning to permanently country home. past Australia goal- Japan midfielder rehabilitate them after that." The World Cup keeper Mark Keisuke Honda, one of Chittagong, the second takes place Feb.