FAIRYTALE RETURN: Wrieen off by many critics befoer the tournament had even started, the unseeded American neede just 63 minutes to thrash the Russian world No.1
An emotional Serena Williams swatted aside top seed and world No. 1 Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 in the Australian Open final yesterday to win her eighth Grand Slam and prove the critics wrong.

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EDGED OUT AGAIN: The hapless Tigers have now lost three matches in a row, two of them by three points or less, following their defeat to Yulon Dinos on Friday night
By Paul Huang
Statistically, Lee Hsueh-lin did not have a particularly good game on Friday night. Three of his Yulon Dinos teammates outscored the nine points he managed against the Dacin Tigers at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium.

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US twins Bob and Mike Bryan were jubilant after grabbing their fifth Grand Slam men's doubles title by beating Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi 7-5, 7-5 at the Australian Open.

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Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou, who won the silver medal in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is set to return to the track after a two-year ban.

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DAY ONE: Three late wickets took the shine off a good opening day for the Proteas after they took advantage of a testing surface to dismiss the tourists for just 157
Pakistan fought back after a first innings collapse on the first day of the series-deciding third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

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BEING TIGER: The 26-year-old Tennessee native was overwhelmed by the crowd's support as he shot another fine round to lead the Buick Invitational at 13 under par
PGA Tour rookie Brandt Snedeker got just a taste of what it feels like to be Tiger Woods on Friday as he battled to keep his lead in the Buick Invitational.

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AP, DUSSELDORF, Germany

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Alexander Frei's two goals led Borussia Dortmund past Bayern Munich 3-2 when the Bundesliga resumed on Friday after a 40-day winter break.

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MAGICAL: The Wizards have now won five of six while elsewhere on Friday the Knicks and Spurs also chalked up victories against the Heat and Grizzlies respectively
Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 35 points and Gilbert Arenas 25 to help the Washington Wizards hold off the Detroit Pistons 99-96 and maintain the best record in the Eastern Conference halfway through the NBA season on Friday.

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FOOTBALL OR `FUTBOL'? : Next Sunday's Super Bowl is being played in Miami-Dade County, whose population is largely Hispanic, a group the NFL is trying to attract
For 14-year-old Emanuel Arrosa, life is about playing or watching futbol. Like millions of Hispanics whose passion is soccer, the son of Argentine parents can't remember a time when he couldn't dribble a ball with his feet.

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Dan Fritsche jammed in a rebound on the second try midway through the third period for the decisive goal in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL on Friday.

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Jeff Weaver and the Seattle Mariners have just about finalized a one-year contract worth US$8,325,000 -- the same salary he had last year.

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson violated his probation in Michigan when Indiana prosecutors charged him with firing a gun outside a strip club, a judge ruled on Friday.

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■ Soccer
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