Melbourne, January 30
Novak Djokovic won his second Australian Open title, breezing past Andy Murray 6-4 6-2 6-3 today to extend Britain's near 75-year drought in men's singles Grand Slams. Murray has now been runner-up in three Grand Slam finals - losing to Roger Federer at both the 2008 U S Open and the 2010 Australian Open before his third disappointment today which enabled Djokovic to add to his 2008 Australian title. The Scotsman has not won a set in a Grand Slam final. Last year, Murray had tears after his loss to Federer.

They weren't immediately visible this year, but the hurt may have been just has bad after he lost seven straight games through the end of the first set and into the second and never appeared to be in the match.

The last British man to win a Grand Slam singles title was Fred Perry at the 1936 U S Open - more than 270 majors ago. Murray and Djokovic, who are each 23 and were born a week apart, are good friends and often practice together.

At the coin flip ahead of the match, Djokovic smiled broadly for photos while Murray looked fidgety and nervous. After the match, the two hugged, then Djokovic threw his racket, his shirt and then his shoes into the crowd.

The roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena for most of the day due to 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) temperatures, but was opened just before the match started and after the weather had cooled significantly. Trailing 5-4, Murray double-faulted to lead off the 10th game of the first set. Then he hit a backhand into the net after a 39-hit point.

Murray challenged the final point of the set when he thought his forehand stayed in on the backline, but Djokovic walked away with the set in 59 minutes. Djokovic held serve on four straight points to open the second set, then went up 2-0 when he again broke Murray's service, finishing off the point when Murray's attempted drop shot was returned crosscourt for a winner. Murray had five unforced errors in the first two games.

The Serbian player went up 3-0, then continued his domination in the next game, breaking Murray in four straight points to go up 4-0 and held for 5-0, his seventh straight game win. Murray finally stopped the streak with an ace on game point to trail 5-1, then broke Djokovic in the next game to cut the margin to 5-2.

Murray appeared to be having problems with his eyes, blinking often and rubbing them on changeovers and often during points.

That didn't help in the next game when he again dropped serve and lost the second set in 40 minutes, Djokovic establishing set point with a memorable crosscourt winner off a near-impossible shot from Murray. The third set started with Murray's second break of Djokovic's service in the match, but Djokovic ensure that Murray's advantage was short-lived by breaking him in the next game. After an unforced error wide, Murray pounded his fist and yelled out in disgust.

Things didn't improve for Murray, who held off six break points before Djokovic prevailed on the seventh in the fourth game, hitting a backhand down the line to pass a stretching Murray. Djokovic pumped his fist and let out a loud yell in celebration. That, too, was short-lived, when Murray broke back in the next game to pull to within 3-2, then held through two break points to level the set at 3-3.

Late in the match, Murray appeared to clutch his lower back after a low return on the baseline. Djokovic soon broke serve again and then served it out. Djokovic now leads the head-to-head series 5-3, ending a three-match streak for Murray. — AP

Brisbane, January 30
Australia claimed the one-day international series against England with a 51-run win in the fifth match at the Gabba in Brisbane today. After winning the toss and batting Australia made 249, with second-gamer Chris Woakes picking up a record-equalling six wickets. It seemed insufficient, but the tourists slumped to 145-9, before a late flurry from Steve Finn (35 off 24 balls) boosted their score to a more respectable 198.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee celebrates after taking a wicket in Brisbane on Sunday — AP/PTI

The result gave Australia an unbeatable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series, ending England's run of five straight ODI series wins, and the match also raised more than USD 6 million for victims of the recent Queensland floods. The English were in early trouble in the chase at 22-3, when Brett Lee (2-21) was on a hat-trick. Kevin Pietersen (40) and Ian Bell (36) put on 73 to revive their hopes but when the pair, and Eoin Morgan, fell in quick succession, they were 103-6 and all but beaten.

England captain Andrew Strauss lamented another poor batting display. "It was another poor performance with the bat," he conceded. "There were too many soft dismissals. "We thought 250 was very chaseable. We need to finish this series off strongly heading into the World Cup."

Adding to the pain for England was an apparent hamstring injury to young paceman Ajmal Shahzad while bowling late in the Australian innings. Shahzad, a member of England's World Cup squad, limped off at the end of his eighth over, having pulled up sore four deliveries earlier. Australian captain Michael Clarke, who made an overdue return to form with a half-century, said it was a gutsy effort from the Aussies. "I think we did really well to scratch out 249," he said. "We weren't looking all that flash at one stage, and then the bowlers did a great job tonight. I think we are improving."

England's poor batting squandered the stellar effort by Woakes, who was recalled to replace spinner Michael Yardy and claimed 6-45. The 21-year-old Woakes became just the second England bowler to claim six wickets in an ODI, the other being Paul Collingwood (6-31) against Bangladesh. His victims included four of the top six batsmen, Clarke among them. However, Clarke finally showed signs of a long overdue return to form by top-scoring for the Australians with 54 from 74 balls. — AFP

Chandigarh, January 30
Team India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today offered to establish a multi-disciplinary sports academy in Punjab. Harbhajan met Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today and made his offer. The cricketers said he envisioned setting up a multi-disciplinary sports academy in which he would provide international-level playing facilities.

Harbhajan, who hails from Jalandhar, said he was offering to establish the academy so that he could give back something to the State after reaching heights of international achievement in cricket. Bhajji said he was already in touch with international players of different sports, who would pool-in their efforts and expertise to set up the academy.

Appreciating Harbhajan’s proposal, the Badal asked him to submit a detailed project report so that government could move forward after processing the same. 

London, January 30
England batsman Kevin Pietersen has blasted the Cricket World Cup schedule, saying that the six-week fixture is too long and playing matches with six-day intervals is "ridiculous". "It's far too long. How can the England team play once and then in six days' time play again, and then in six days' time play again?" Pietersen asked. "It's ridiculous but there's nothing we can do about the schedules," he added.

The outspoken cricketer also slammed England's hectic schedule leading up to the World Cup, starting on February 19 in the sub-continent. England fly out for the showpiece tournament just three days after arriving back from the current tour of Australia, which began back in October last year. "Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup. It has been for England teams for a very long time and that's probably why England have not done well in World Cups," Pietersen said. — PTI

Wijk Aan Zee, January 30
World champion Viswanathan Anand survived a scare against young Anish Giri of Holland before salvaging a draw in the 12th and penultimate round of the 73rd Tata Steel Chess tournament here. In Group 'A', the Nepalese-Russian Giri came close to defeating the world champion with black pieces but Anand somehow managed to pose enough problems in his opponent's path, which is typical when the Indian ace is defending.

The drawn result, however, find Anand half a point behind leader Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, who also split points against former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in his 12th round encounter.

With just one round remaining in the category-20 super tournament, Nakamura tops the leaderboard on 8.5 points while Anand is close behind on eight points. In other matches, Magnus Carlsen defeated Wang Hao of China to share the third place with Levon Aronian of Armenia on 7.5 points while Kramnik slipped to fifth spot with seven points. In the final round, Anand will have black against Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia while Nakamura will play with the same colour against Wang Hao.

Giri went for a Semi Slav against Anand that left the Indian in real problems. The opening saw young Giri, 16, coming up with a Novelty early in the game and Anand with his nonchalant play, got an optical advantage with routine manoeuvres. — PTI

Chandigarh, January 30
The Amarton Karting Challenge Season III concluded here today with six young drivers walking away with the honours. These six will now take part in the grand finale to be held in Hyderdabad next month.

On the final day on Sunday, Aditya (New Greenfield School, Delhi), Ankit (Gurukul Global , Chandigarh), Raghav Budhiraja (APJ Pritampura, Delhi), Pranav Devgun (DPS , Chandigarh), Purminder Singh (Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector -16 Chandigarh), and Raghav S (Birla Vidya Niketan, Delhi) displayed impeccable skills to be selected the best drivers from the school batch (age group 12 to 16 years).

These six drivers were selected from a group of more than 100 students participating from all the schools of Chandigarh.

Mackinlay Barreto, head - Motor Sports, Amaron Pro Racing said at the event, “We received ample number of registrations from students across Chandigarh, but we know that there are very few kids who actually possess good talent for racing in the city. And if, with the help of this talent hunt organized for the first time ever in India, we get those best drivers from the city then our event will prove to be successful”.

There were special support races as well, which are an international concept, organized for college and corporate level drivers. Regarding this, Mr. Barreto said, “People in the college and the corporate level age groups are the ones who drive bikes and cars. So, by providing them a valid platform, we encourage them to come to a safe place and show their skills”.

Top eight teams from both college and corporate batches competed in the semi-finals and the final rounds of the race. While the top six drivers from the school level will be given a chance to compete with the other 48 students from all over India in Hyderabad on February 6, the winners of the college batch will be given a chance to participate in the finals of the Volkswagen Polo Cup 2011.

London, January 30
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will be allowed to leave the club before Monday's transfer deadline, providing Chelsea comes up with a 50 million pound offer. Anfield has agreed to let Torres go for straight cash or a part-exchange deal involving Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka.

According to the Daily Mail, Torres has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the club for 50 million pounds. Chelsea had earlier offered 42.5 million pounds plus striker Daniel Sturridge for Torres.

Liverpool has worked tirelessly to persuade Torres to stay since Chelsea's initial 40 million pounds bid. — ANI