Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova bags the Australian Open Titles!

MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic withstood a first-set barrage from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, then powered his way to his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday. A day earlier, Maria Sharapova capped off her dream run in this year’s tournament to beat Ana Ivanovic in the women’s final.

No. 3-ranked Djokovic fended off Muhammad Ali lookalike Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, ending a sequence of 11 straight majors won by either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since Marat Safin’s triumph here in 2005.

Djokovic, 20, had not lost a set in six matches leading into the final, including his semifinal win over two-time defending champion Federer. But with unseeded Tsonga coming out swinging like he did in his straight-sets upset over No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals and three other top 14 players, that streak came to a sudden end.

Djokovic rebounded in the second and third sets and after saving a crucial breakpoint in the fourth, dominated the tiebreaker to clinch his first major at his 13th attempt.

“You feel the expectations and pressure, so I’m very happy with the way I dealt with the pressure,” Djokovic said. “Coming on against a player with nothing to lose — he was going for the shots and he was very dangerous, especially in the first set — I was pretty nervous.”

Djokovic was the youngest player since Stefan Edberg defeated Mats Wilander in 1985 to win the Australian Open title and the first man from Serbia to win a major.

Tsonga, who had been so aggressive earlier in the tournament, seemed more content to rally from the baseline, especially after getting passed several times.

Both players had to fight off cramp.

Djokovic got treatment on the back of his left thigh while holding for a 3-2 lead in the fourth set, then fended off a break point while serving at 5-5.

Wanting to finish it off quickly, he raced through the tiebreaker — with some help from Tsonga, who double-faulted to make it 5-1 and then sent a running forehand long to give Djokovic four championship points.

He only needed one as Tsonga hit a forehand wide.

Djokovic fell on his back, then got up to shake hands with Tsonga and put his arm around the Frenchman. He got on his knees and kissed the court, shook hands with his family, then tossed two rackets into the stands before burying his face in a towel.

“First, before I thank everybody in this world, I want to thank everybody in my box, who’ve supported me all the way through, not just these two weeks, all the way in my life,” Djokovic said. “Thank you very much, I love you.”

His father, mother and two younger brothers wore white tracksuits and sat in order with letters on the front spelling out Djokovic’s nickname, Nola.

“Second of course Jo. Unbelievable tournament and you should be proud of yourself — if he won tonight it would be absolutely deserved, so well done for his success.”

Djokovic, who has had a hot and cold relationship with the Melbourne Park crowd, won them back over again in his post-match speech.

“I know the crowd wanted him to win more,” he said of Tsonga. “That’s OK, it’s all right. I still love you guys, don’t worry.

“I’m very, very happy that I won my first Grand Slam here, so hopefully we’ll see you here on this stage a lot more often in the future.”

A year after being on the wrong end of one of the most-lopsided losses in a Grand Slam final, Sharapova wrapped up her third major title Saturday with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Ana Ivanovic.

The Russian didn’t drop a set in seven matches at Melbourne Park, including wins over three of the top four ranked players, erasing 12 months of painful memories in the wake of her 6-1, 6-2 loss to Serena Williams last year.

After Ivanovic sprayed a forehand wide on match point, Sharapova dropped to her knees and appeared to be fighting back tears as she waved and blew kisses to the crowd.

Then she dropped her racket in her chair before heading to shake hands and exchange high-fives with her father and supporters.

She told the Rod Laver Arena crowd that she’d received a text message from tennis great Billie Jean King telling her that ‘Champions take chances and pressure is a privilege.’

“I took mine,” Sharapova said.

Sharapova, 20, wished her mother, Yelena, a happy birthday and told her how she planned to spend some of her 1,370,000 Australian dollars ($1,207,790) prize money.

“With this big fat check, I’m going to send you a bunch of roses,” she said. “Last year I lost on her birthday and this year I said I’m going to make it up to her, and I did.”

Ivanovic is projected to rise to No. 2 in the rankings despite the loss, while Sharapova will remain at No. 5 when the new list is released next week.

Sharapova leads their head-to-heads 3-2, avenging a straight-sets loss to the Serbian player in the French Open semifinals last year.

Ivanovic, also 20, is 0-2 in Grand Slam finals after losing the French Open championship match to Henin.

“I’m very emotional and you guys made it a very special experience for me,” she told the crowd as tears welled in her eyes. Ivanovic said she expected more big Grand Slam encounters between she and Sharapova in future.
“I really feel I’m also improving my game and I’m learning how to be a top player. These situations help me,” she said. “So I’m sure we’ll have plenty of opportunities to play against each other in the final of a Grand Slam.”

“I really feel I’m also improving my game and I’m learning how to be a top player. These situations help me,” she said. “So I’m sure we’ll have plenty of opportunities to play against each other in the final of a Grand Slam.”

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Philipp Kohlschreiber upstages Andy Roddick

Kohlschreiber reacting after winning against Roddick (Photo courtesy of AP)

It's true! Sounds shocking at first but yes Kohlschreiber the worlds 26 has beaten the world's number 6th Andy Roddick. I had watch their play on Star Sports and believe me the games was very exhilarating right from the start until the very end.
You cant really decide at first who will win because their both good. Roddick has his power serve which reaches up to a staggering speed of 276 kpm while Kohlschreiber is good at long rallies and making Roddick run from corner to corner, which made Roddick sweat like hell!
If you ask me who is the best player at that game I would choose Kohlschreiber because Roddick mainly scores from his powerful serves which Kohlschreiber find it most of the time hard to catch. But eventually at the last part of the game Kohlschreiber slowly cracks up the technique upon handling Roddick serves.
You know, I think Roddick might have won if he controlled his temper, but of course if you are really pissed off you cannot control yourself. He should have saved some energy for the long rallies he would have faced whenever Kohlschreiber catches his serve not pouring all his energy upon service.

And Good luck also to Kohlschreiber upon his up coming match against Jarkko Nieminen! Hope Kohli would win again!


Here is an article taken from bbc.co.uk for more info:

Sixth seed Andy Roddick crashed out of the Australian Open to number 29 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber after a five-set thriller in the third round.

The American never looked comfortable and the German ran out a worthy winner after a four-hour epic which ended after 0200 local time on Saturday.

Roddick saved four match points in a pulsating fifth set but eventually went down 4-6 6-3 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (7-3) 6-8.

Kohlschreiber now faces Finn Jarkko Nieminen after he beat Mardy Fish.

"I was just thinking don't make mistakes," said Kohlschreiber, 24. "I just said full power on every shot, and it worked out perfectly.

"I enjoyed every second of it and both of us was doing our best to come out on top.

"That was just amazing. It's the best that happened to me in tennis."

Both Kohlschreiber and Roddick had gone into the tournament on hot streaks, Roddick winning the Kooyong Classic title last week and Kohlschreiber claiming the Auckland title.

The word in the locker-room was that the match was poised to be a close affair and the predictions were correct.

Roddick did not look focused in the opener and Kohlschreiber's probing groundstrokes saw him break at 5-4 and serve out the set.

In the second, the German fended off three break points at 1-1, but a revitalised Roddick broke him in the fourth game and held on to level at one-set all.

Both players settled into a rhythm in the third and, while both had opportunities to break, the tie-break was inevitable.

Roddick worked his way to two set-points in the tie-breaker but remarkably Kohlschreiber clung on, eventually claiming it 11-9 to edge ahead.

With things not going his way, the American sixth seed threw down his racquet and yelled 'you're an idiot' at umpire Emmanuel Joseph.

A rattled Roddick, already on a warning for bad language, continued to rant at the umpire, complaining vociferously about rowdy German fans in the seventh game.

Despite his rising temper, Roddick managed to push the set through to the tie-break, winning it 7-3 to level the match once more.

Unbowed, the German continued to attack and forced four match points in the 10th game, but Roddick hung on.

The match was finally settled in the 14th game as Kohlschreiber pulled out two more well-timed groundstrokes to move to 0-30 on the Roddick serve.

The American responded with another ace - to mark a career-best match total of 42 - but a superb Kohlschreiber passing-shot and a wide forehand from Roddick handed the German a place in the last 16.

"It's not good, it's not fun," shrugged Roddick. "I am trying to think of a new and exciting way to say that.

"He was swinging from the first ball. I took his best stuff for five sets and I thought I was going to get him to break or to fold.

"I thought if I kept it on him long enough that that would happen. Tonight he played like a great, great player.

"It's rough. You play a match that long, you come out the wrong end, it doesn't feel good."

Roddick's defeat saw him slide to his earliest exit from the event since his debut in 2002, while Kohlschreiber equalled his career-best Grand Slam performance.

Ironically that was in the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2005, where he lost to Roddick.

Happy New Year!

Myspace Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Britney Spears - Piece of Me

Britney's new single Piece of Me

The reason I posted it in my blog is because the Philippines is mentioned! ;-D

Here is the lyrics:

Piece of Me
Britney Spears

I’m Miss American Dream since I was 17
Don’t matter if I step on the scene
Or sneak away to the Philippines
They still gon' put pictures of my derrière in the magazine
You want a piece of me?
You want a piece of me...

I’m Miss bad media karma
Another day another drama
Guess I can’t see the harm
In working and being a mama
And with a kid on my arm
I’m still an exceptional earner
And you want a piece of me

I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin
(You want a piece of me)

I’m Mrs. ‘You want a piece of me?’
Tryin’ and pissin’ me off
Well get in line with the paparazzi
Who’s flippin’ me off
Hopin’ I’ll resort to some havoc
End up settlin’ in court
Now are you sure you want a piece of me?
(You want a piece of me)

I’m Mrs. ‘Most likely to get on the TV for slippin' on the streets’
When getting the groceries, no, for real..
Are you kidding me?
No wonder there's panic in the industry
I mean please, do you want a piece of me?

I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin
(You want a piece of me)

I’m Miss American Dream since I was 17
Don’t matter if I step on the scene
Or sneak away to the Philippines
They still gon' put pictures of my derrière in the magazine
You want a piece of me?
You want a piece, piece of me...

You want a piece of me?

I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin
(You want a piece of me)

I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin
(You want a piece of me)

Oh yeah
You want a piece of me

Square Shaped Melons!?!?!?!

I know it sounds awkward but it's true! Japanese farmers forced the melons to grow in a box (the one in the second picture) so that transportation and storage of the fruit can be done easily.

ROX is open!

Ok, I know this is a late post so please forgive me because this is the first time I am updating my blog in a month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This event was attended by numerous celebrities and ambassadors, some just stayed for a while while others joined the party. Examples of celebrities were Diether Ocampo, Romi Garduce, the Philippine Star journalists and lots more! Ambassadors includes the British & French ambassadors and Politicians include Mar Roxas among others.

The event was oozing with drinks and scrumptious meals accompanied by music from bands. One particular band that deserves a spot in my article is the Kadangyan band, which promotes Indigenous Filipino music blended with some western influence to form an original genre which I think is great! They are not like other Filipino bands who are so trying hard to imitate American bands!
I also want to share to all of you this specific drink, its a beer actually, but its totally different for Filipino standards if you know what I mean ;-)
It's probably 7 to 10 times stronger than the average Filipino beer! I just drank a little bit about 1 gulp then after 20 seconds I felt my ear and cheeks were hot little that I notice that my face is turning red especially my ears! The name of the beer is Coors .

By the way ROX is a store for all your outdoor sporting needs. So if you are an enthusiast in any outdoor sport, this is the place to be!

Here are some Pictures and Videos from the event with captions!

A famous Philippine Star Journalist

The logo of ROX which my Dad gave its Specs.

Kadangyan performing

Just a section of lights which my dads company provided

Another outdoor view.

Kadangyan performing

Me with (from left) Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon (first filipinas who climb Mt. Everest) and Romi Garduce (Mt. Everest summiteer)

CEG & Study to Immigrate New Zealand Seminars

My will to study abroad pushed my eagerness to attend both seminars, after all it will inform you, give some insights on studying abroad, and the most wonderful reason for attending this seminar is absolutely free! Yes FREE! And who knows I might stumble upon a scholarships offer which I might try to apply. :-)

This seminar is all about the commonwealth countries (particularly UK, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand), which tries to give the Filipinos some alternative options in education destination rather than the O' so inevitable "USA" which is clearly the first choice of most Filipinos. They give you insights on why should you study in their country. For example Canada claims that the cost of living & education in their country is significantly lower than the US or other prominent educational countries. In this seminar you can ask questions regarding any subject to university or institution representatives from all of the participating countries. They would give you suggestions, comments, & free glossy or decent brochures about their school.
The CEG seminar was held at Hotel Dusit Nikko, while the Study to immigrate of New Zealand is catered at the Shangri-La Hotel Makati

In my opinion New Zealand is my first choice. Why? because the environment is clean, quality education based on the British system, if you study their you would be in the fast track on being a New Zealander, great job opportunities & because I simply adore that country! :D

Here are some links from the seminars
www.globaleducation.com.ph
www.newzealandeducated.com

PICTURES

How Addicted to Coffee Are You?

I am 48% Addicted to Coffee

Ok I know I scored quite low this time but believe me last year I'm pretty sure that I score really high because now my drinking consumption has been lowered because I'm still young (16 years old now, 15 last year, & I started drinking it when I was 12) and the doctor told me to refrain from drinking caffeine based drinks because I was hospitalize last year of gastritis which you can acquire from skipping meals and a lot of stress!

The Fallen by Thomas Sniegoski

I already finished this book 2 months ago but I'll still post a review here.

5 stars! This book will never fail your expectations. It's pure reading pleasure from the first page to the last. It also entices you to read the remaining 3 books of the series which I'm dying to start turning the pages and wonder upon whats gonna happen (unfortunately I had lost the second book of the series hehe)

This book is about Aaron Corbet who just turned eighteen & is about to embark into a journey of a lifetime!
It all started when Aaron had a dream about a dark violent landscape. The area was engulfed by the sounds of weapons clanging, and the screams of the helpless. He then noticed in his dream that there were angels in armors who are descending into the battlefield. Little did he know that he was half angel or a Nephilim.

Then Aaron's journey continues. Fighting angels who try to destroy him, leaving his beloved ones behind and tries to find his step brother who was been abducted by the Powers.

Will he ever find his step brother again? Will Aaron still be seeing his beloved Vilma Santiago? Will he make the prophecy come true? We can only find the answers in the three remaining books by Thomas Sneigoski.

Ugly Betty Mania!

I love this show! It's comedy & drama fused together to form the perfect prime time show you will surely never want to miss

It's about this girl named Betty who's will to succeed in life is never been affected by the prejudices being blown to her. But of course not all of the people notices her ugly physical appearance, they see her inner beauty instead.

I highly recommend you folks to watch Ugly Betty from season 1 to 2. Season 1 is already in DVD and Season 2 is currently being aired. You can also watch all of the episodes at abc.com, video on demand section

Here is a clip from season 2 which is my favorite so far in this series, Enjoy!

warning this is a spoiler if you haven't watched the series yet!