RTC Director

Azarenka thumps Sharapova for first major title, No. 1 ranking

Victoria Azarenka started celebrating, then suddenly did a double-take to ask her coach, "What happened?"

The answer: She had just produced one of the most lopsided Australian Open final victories to capture a Grand Slam title and the No. 1 ranking for the first time.

Azarenka routed three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in 1 hour, 22 minutes on Saturday night, winning 12 of the last 13 games after dropping her first service game and falling behind 2-0.

"It's a dream come true," she said. "I have been dreaming and working so hard to win the Grand Slam, and being No. 1 is pretty good bonus. Just the perfect ending and the perfect position to be in."

Azarenka had won 11 straight matches, including a run to the Sydney International title, and reached her first Grand Slam final. Her previous best performance at a major was a semifinal loss to Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon last year. Sharapova had all the experience, being in her sixth major final and having won three - dating to her 2004 Wimbledon title.

But it didn't unnerve the 22-year-old Azarenka, the first woman from Belarus to win a singles major. She's also the seventh different woman to win a Grand Slam since Francesca Schiavone won the 2010 French Open, and the fifth different winner in as many majors.

Azarenka became only the third woman to earn the No. 1 spot after winning her first major title. She moved from No. 3 to No. 1 in the rankings, helped by Caroline Wozniacki's loss in the quarterfinals.

The third-seeded Azarenka set up championship point with a stunning forehand, her 14th clean winner, and sealed it when Sharapova netted a backhand.

She dropped to her knees at the baseline with her hands over her face. She got up, held her hands up and jogged over to her coach, Sam Sumyk, in the stands to celebrate.

"The best feeling, for sure," Azarenka said. "I don't know about the game. I don't know what I was doing out there. It's just pure joy what happened. I can't believe it's over."

And she paid special credit to her grandmother, "the person who inspires me the most in my life."

Azarenka has been a distinctive presence at Melbourne Park as much for her shrieks and hoots with each shot and seemingly boundless energy as for her white shorts, blue singlet and lime green head and wrist bands.

Against Sharapova, she maintained the frenetic movement that has been the hallmark of her performance in Australia, her 25th consecutive major. She won the Sydney International title last weekend and is on a 12-match winning streak - the first player since 2004 to win a WTA tour event the week before winning a major.

"She did everything better than I did today. I had a good first couple of games, and that was about it," Sharapova said. "Then she was the one that was taking the first ball and hitting it deep and aggressive. I was always the one running around like a rabbit, you know, trying to play catch-up all the time."

Sharapova also won only three games in a 2007 final loss to Serena Williams, who also conceded only three games in the 2009 final against Dinara Safina.

When Sharapova won the first two games, there was no indication of how lopsided the match would be. Azarenka took control after holding for the first time, breaking Sharapova at love and then holding again on a three-game roll.

Sharapova held, finishing off with an ace, to level the score at 3-3 in the first set but then didn't win another game.

Azarenka started dictating the points, coming to the net at times, hitting winners from the baseline and forcing the 24-year-old Russian to the extremes on both sides of the court. Sharapova seemed barely able to move by comparison, and had 30 unforced errors in the match.

The second set was completely lopsided and lasted only 36 minutes, with Sharapova winning only 12 points.

"As in any sport, you have your good days, you have your tough days and you have days where things just don't work out," said Sharapova, who has now been on the losing end of two of the most lopsided scorelines in a final at Melbourne Park.

In the men's doubles final, Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek denied Bob and Mike Bryan their record 12th Grand Slam title, beating the American twins 7-6 (1), 6-2.

The 33-year-old Bryans were attempting to secure their place as the most decorated doubles team since the Open Era began in 1968. They remain tied at 11 major titles with Australian duo Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.

On Sunday, defending champion Novak Djokovic takes on Rafael Nadal in a men's singles final featuring the top two players in the rankings. Djokovic won three of the four majors last year and beat Nadal in six finals in 2011 among his 70 match wins for the season.

Azarenka had her best season in 2011, winning 55 of 72 matches to finish the year at No. 3.

SI

by RTC Director

Tiger Woods tied for lead at Abu Dhabi Championship

Tiger Woods shot a 6-under 66 Saturday to grab a share of the lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the latest sign that the 14-time major winner is returning to form after ending a two-year victory drought.

There wasn't a lot of fist pumping from Woods, who traded drama for consistency in racking up six birdies in a bogey-free round.

It was a memorable performance by the American, mostly for his ability to hit the fairways, tame the par 5s and sink clutch putts - including a six-footer for birdie on the final hole.

``It just seemed like I didn't do a lot of things right but I didn't do a lot of things wrong today, it was just very consistent,'' Woods said. ``You know, made a couple putts here and there ... I stayed away from trouble and tried to keep the ball towards the fat side of some of these pins and I think I did a pretty good job.''

Woods moved to 11 under for the tournament and is tied with newcomer Robert Rock, who birdied his final two holes to earn the 117th-ranked Englishman a first-ever pairing with Woods for Sunday's finale.

Rory McIlroy (68), Peter Hanson (64), Francesco Molinari (66) and Peter Lawrie (68) were two shots back, with George Coetzee (65), James Kingston (67), overnight leader Thorbjorn Olesen (71) and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (69) all a shot further back.

Woods is attempting to follow his season-ending victory at the Chevron World Challenge with another win here. He was two shots off the pace after the second round but started climbing the leaderboard Saturday with an opening birdie, followed by another on No. 7.

He stepped up his game on the back nine and grabbed a share of the lead after he narrowly missed an eagle putt on the 10th and settled for birdie. He briefly took the outright lead with a birdie on 14.

The crowd of several hundred cheered every birdie, with some yelling ``Tiger's back.''

Woods refused to talk about his victory chances, acknowledging too many players remain within striking distance.

``There's a ton of guys with a chance to win,'' Woods said. ``You know, we have not separated ourselves from the field. The field is very bunched. I need to go out there and put together a solid round of golf, and I can't go out there and shoot even par and expect to win. I've got to go out there and go get it.''

Rock, who got his first European Tour win last year in Italy in a playoff with Sergio Garcia, admitted he was star-struck at the prospect of teeing off alongside Woods, calling him ``the best guy I've ever seen play golf.''

The 34-year-old journeyman is relishing the chance to go head-to-head with one of golf's all-time greats.

``There's quite a lot of people out there (today) obviously following Tiger in the group in front of us. Hopefully we've got the same amount of people watching tomorrow, and we'll see how I cope with it,'' Rock said. ``I just want to experience it. How many chances I'll get to do that, it's not clear.''

Rock was one of several players who challenged Woods for the lead after overnight leader Olesen fell back.

Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, showed some of the form he displayed at the Dubai World Championship in December, where he finished second. He made birdie on 10 and 11 to tie Woods for the lead, fell back with bogeys on 14 and 17 and then recovered to birdie the 18th.

Molinari and Hanson also bounced back from opening round 74s to move into contention. Molinari had five birdies on his back nine, while the 47th-ranked Swede had eight birdies in his round - including three on the last five holes - in a bogey-free round to finish with the lowest score of the day.

``It was one of those days where you have the best job in the world,'' Hanson said. ``Struck it nice, made four easy birdies on the par 5s and then a few more, and it felt pretty easy somehow.''

U.S. Open champion McIlroy also is still in the mix, a day after he had two double bogeys, including on the 9th when he was penalized for brushing away sand in front of his ball. He only had one bogey to go with five birdies Saturday, but the 22-year-old Northern Irishman was forced to scramble several times to save par, including on the 18th when an errant drive went into nearby rocks and almost into a pond.

``I definitely felt today was a lot better than yesterday,'' McIlroy said. ``I felt like I hit the ball a lot better. I feel that I made a couple of loose swings off the tee and obviously one on the last, and a couple others, but it's getting there. So hopefully I can just keep that going tomorrow and maybe get off to a fast start and put pressure on the guys in front of me.''

Top-ranked Luke Donald (73) is 11 shots behind Woods, with No. 2-ranked Lee Westwood (68) seven off the lead.

by RTC Director

UK lifts tax to pull out Bolt

The British government on Thursday announced it would relax stiff income tax rules for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, a move that could lure Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt and a host of top-tier athletes to the Glasgow showpiece.

Under British law, non-residents are required to pay a 50 per cent tax rate on their appearance fee, and also cough up a quantity of their worldwide endorsement income.

The regulation has forced Bolt, the reigning Olympic 100 and 200 metres champion, to opt out of the London Aviva Grand Prix for the last two years.

"With six months tomorrow to go until London 2012, I'm pleased to announce this special exemption for Glasgow 2014 which will prolong the Olympic legacy and help spread the long-term benefits into Scotland," said chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander.

"Everyone wants to see the best athletes compete at Glasgow 2014 and this exemption will make that more likely. Seeing the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, it's clear that Glasgow will be an outstanding venue for the Commonwealth Games which showcases the best of UK and international sporting talent."

Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith hailed the UK government's new initiative, pointing out it would now make the Games appealing to the world's best athletes, including the galaxy of Jamaican sprinters currently on the international stage.

Of recent, the Commonwealth Games have failed to attract elite athletes as they have opted for the brighter lights of the World Championship and the Olympics.

"This agreement opens the door for the Commonwealth's elite international athletes such as Jamaica's sprinters, Australia's swimmers and cyclists, and Kenya's distance runners to compete at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games," Lord Smith said.

"As a major multi-sport event, with a truly global reach, Glasgow 2014 and its Games Partners are working very hard to make the XX Commonwealth Games a 'must-attend' event for the brightest stars of the Commonwealth.

"There is no doubt that (this) announcement significantly increases the access and attraction for top performers to compete at Glasgow 2014."

The last edition of the Commonwealth Games was staged in Delhi, India, in 2010.

by RTC Director

Asafa Powell eyes World Indoor Champs

Former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell is taking dead aim at the shorter 60 metres sprint at this year's IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics.

According to Powell, the principals guiding his professional career are discussing his participation in the meet, to be held March 9-12 in Istanbul, Turkey.

"My coach (Stephen Francis) and my manager have been having a lot of discussion about that," Powell said Thursday while here to run in today's US Open Track and Field meet inside the Madison Square Garden arena.

Powell, who has not run indoors since 2004, welcomes the chance to compete at the global championships.

"I would love to," he said. "It's another experience. I don't think it's much different from the World Championships, you know. It's the same thing. It's only a shorter distance."

Powell raised some eyebrows in track circles when he chose to run the 50 metres here. Not only has he never competed at that distance before, but the race will be his opener this season.

"This Saturday will be the first time I'll be going in spikes," said Powell.

He will face fellow Jamaicans Nesta Carter and Kimmari Roach; Antiguan Daniel Bailey, who finished third at the 2010 World Indoors; and Americans Trell Kimmons and Justin Gatlin, another former world record holder in the 100 metres.

The race is scheduled to start at 9:55 p.m., 10 minutes after the women's 50 metres featuring reigning World Indoor 60 metres champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica. Other Jamaicans competing at the meet include Dwight Thomas in the 50 metres hurdles and Davita Prendergast in the 500 yards.

Powell offered several reasons for skipping previous indoor competition, including the season's conflict with regular training schedules in Jamaica, plus one past experience that didn't go well.

"The last indoor meet I ran I got injured and I think my coach just decided not to send me back indoors," Powell said, explaining his extended absence from the "boards".

Powell's older brother Donovan was a finalist in the 60 metres at the 1999 World Indoors. However, a more realistic motive for his decision to run indoors is Powell's admission that he must "change" the preparation routine which helped him hold the world 100 metres record from June 2005 to May 2008, but has failed to earn him a gold medal in the event at either the Olympics or outdoor World Championships. Powell believes his time is running out, especially with the emergence of fellow Jamaican stars such as Usain Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion and current 100 metres world record holder, and Yohan Blake, who won that event at last year's World Championships.

He may get inspiration from Dwain Chambers, who won the 2010 World Indoors 60 metres at age 31, although the British sprinter's time of 6.48 seconds is faster than Powell's best of 6.56. What he'll produce today is still unclear..

"I still can run fast," said Powell. "I don't know how fast or what to expect."

by RTC Director

Hopeful 'Rambo' now at Aston Villa

Rusea's High's star striker, Brian 'Rambo' Brown, whose goalscoring exploits were pivotal in the school's 2011 ISSA/Gatorade /Digicel daCosta Cup success, is now in England on trial with Barclays Premier League outfit Aston Villa.

Prior to leaving the island on Thursday, the prolific Brown, who was staying away from the local Red Stripe Premier League in a bid to concentrate on his academics, said the possibility of getting a professional contract in England was the kind of chance he was not prepared to bypass.

"This is something I was hoping and praying would happen for me one day," said Brown, who won the schoolboy 'golden boots' award in both 2010 and 2011. "My goal is to become a professional footballer so this is possibly the best opportunity to get myself into the big league."

At the conclusion of the schoolboy football season late last year, Brown rejected invitations from at least three teams to play in the 2011-12 Red Stripe Premier League, stating that he wanted to concentrate on the CXC subjects he will be sitting later this year.

Scholarship

"I am doing six CXC subjects and I want to pass all six as my aim is to get a scholarship to an overseas college or university," said Brown. "I would have to spend time training to play in the RPL and I just don't have that amount of them to share between school and club football."

Montego Bay United Football (MBUFC) and fellow western Jamaica outfits Reno FC and Village United were among the teams that made offers to Brown, who is the son of former Seba United star striker Brian 'Rambo' Brown Sr.

"We were prepared to work with him on his own terms," said MBUFC chairman Orville Powell. "We were prepared to give him a starting position on the team without him having to follow the regular training regime ... he is clearly a very special talent."

While he still has his sights set on doing well in his CXC Examinations, that could all fall through the window if he impresses at Aston Villa and is offered an immediate contract.

"If they offer me a contract I would take it," said Brown. "It is something I have discussed with my family and the decision is that accepting a contract would be in my best interest."

Brown's link with Aston Villa was facilitated by his England-based agent Barrington McIntosh, who was able to convince the club with video recordings and newspaper articles showcasing Brown's exploits on the local schoolboy circuit over the past three years in which he tallied 63 goals.

"McIntosh came to Jamaica to watch me play in the daCosta Cup this year and he is convinced that with my talent I could make it in England," said Brown. "I hope I will be able to justify the faith he has in my ability."

Rusea's assistant coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams is absolutely elated with the opportunity that has been opened for young Brown, and believes that he has the requisite skills to impress in England.

"This youngster is like a goal-scoring machine ... he always knows where the goal is and is able to score incredible goals," said Williams. "He is now Rusea's all-time leading goal

by RTC Director