Believe it, Victoria, believe it! The New Tennis Queen

Victoria Azarenka poses by the Yarra River today with the trophy for becoming the women's world No.1 tennis player. Photo: Getty Images

''WHAT happened?'' Victoria Azarenka kept asking, as if she did not dare to believe all the questions her performance had just answered.
Yes, the Australian Open has a new champion, and women's tennis its latest queen. Yes, with her emphatic 6-3, 6-0 defeat of Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka earned her first major title, a record winner's cheque of $2.3 million, and another place in history as the sport's 21st No. 1.

What happened? Sharapova was asking that, too, for little had separated the pair in their six previous matches, although this was their first in a grand slam. If there was one expected edge it was thought to be Sharapova's: experience, for this was the sixth grand slam final for the winner of three.

She did it by winning 12 of the last 13 games until closing out the match in just 82 minutes, including just the third 6-0 set in a women's final.

It was a thrashing for Sharapova, the Russian superstar who has now lost two major finals in the past six months - her first two since returning from the 2008 shoulder surgery that threatened her career. The first, at Wimbledon, was to Petra Kvitova, and the four singles slams are now all held for the first time by players who own just the one.

Victoria Azarenka poses alongside the Yarra River today with the Australian Open trophy. Photo: Getty Images

Yet Sharapova was gracious in defeat, and Azarenka buoyant after the shock subsided, thanking her hard-working grandmother ''who inspires me most in my life'', and grinning when she was reminded that her support team must now honour a deal to dye their hair blonde.

Less than a year ago, she was considering whether to continue in the game. ''I think that was just a short moment, and I bounced back again,'' she said.

As the 2005 Australian girls' champion, Azarenka becomes just the third woman after long-retired local pair Chris O'Neil and Evonne Goolagong Cawley to complete the junior-senior double.

She is also the first Belarusian to win a singles major, Natasha Zvereva having reached the French final in 1988, representing the Soviet Union. If the match was an anti-climax, and the most lopsided since the 2006 decider from which Justine Henin retired early in the second set, the atmosphere was also relatively subdued in a stadium with many hundreds of empty seats.

There was little emotional investment in either player, for the reformed hot head and the ice queen can be difficult players to like. How different from last year, when new tournament darling, Li Na, met long-time sentimental favourite Kim Clijsters, a popular winner assured.

Which is not to detract from Azarenka's achievement, although in recent days the women's tournament has been overshadowed by two fabulous evening semis between the four leading men.

So Belarus provides the new champion, the youngest at an Australian Open since 20-year-old Sharapova in 2008, Azarenka joining Li, Kvitova and Sam Stosur as yet another first-timer, and handed the the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy by the youngest of the previous century, Martina Hingis.

What happened? We just saw, and heard it. May she celebrate as long and loudly as she wishes.

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Celebrity Apprentice Australia star David Hasselhoff is Foreman Material

Still boasting the tan he made famous on Baywatch, David Hasselhoff led the all-male team on the new Celebrity Apprentice Australia as they rounded up props and support for their first challenge - a pet pampering service - today.

The 59-year-old led the charge from Cremorne's Orpheum Theatre, where contestants filmed the opening scenes of the new season show.

Ian "Dicko" Dickson and AFL loudmouth Jason Akermanis, not known as wallflower types, appeared awestruck by the towering American.

Having struggled to overcome personal demons, including a battle with alcohol addiction, Hasselhoff has made a career of TV cameos like this one.

He was the first to be booted off the last series of Dancing With The Stars in the US, where he paired with Aussie Kym Johnson.

"He's going to hit the wall at some point," Dickson said about Hasselhoff's fast pace.

Fellow contestant Ben Dark was also impressed by The Hoff's determination to win the challenge. "I'll be his coffee boy if he keeps this up" Dark said.

Teammate and model Nathan Joliffe had some favourable comments for the American after he stripped off at the beach.

"He's not wearing Speedos but looking bloody good if you ask me," he said.
The public are invited to get involved in today's challenge, with Charlotte Dawson texting the details:
"Please come between 1pm-3pm to Sydney Park, car park entrance, corner King St & Princes Highway, Alexandria x Bring your own or steal someone's dog for a pampering. I will be shovelling shit so bring your camera ;)"

Miranda Kerr Strips Down as Australia's Wonder Woman For Grazia

What better way for an Australian magazine to show their patriotism than by dressing up one of our most successful modelling exports as an Aussie Wonder Woman? That’s exactly what Grazia did for their Australia Day special collectors issue (on sale now), starring Miranda Kerr in a custom-made Alex Perry bodysuit and cape. According to Grazia editor Kellie Hush, “Miranda’s an Aussie icon; a businesswoman, a wife, a mum. She is our Wonder Woman.”

If last year looked busy for Miranda, it seems like 2012 is shaping up to be even bigger for the model. On top of her David Jones ambassador role and Victoria’s Secret duties, she recently signed on as a new ambassador for Qantas. And when not working, Miranda’s been either catching up with friends at awards season parties with Orlando Bloom, or spending time with her too-cute 1-year-old son, Flynn.