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.

Celebrities are invading Australia - Dave Grohl and Jack Black the latest stars to travel Down Under

Proving that Australia has become the hot celebrity destination for the world this season, Jack Black and Dave Grohl flew into Perth on the weekend to kickstart their joint tour - The Foo Fighters headlining with the self-described "greatest band in the world" Tenacious D in support.

While Black aped for photographers, Grohl and his band were looking much cooler, refusing to acknowledge photographers in theirs midst.

The two stars have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial arrangement - Black cast Grohl as Satan in his hit comedy film Tenacious D And The Pick of Destiny.

Now the boys are on the same music bill and are headed to Sydney on December 8.

Black's musical offsider Kyle Gass also flew in but slipped almost undetected through the airport.

They are just the latest megastars to accept invitations to play Down Under and join a slew of artists, including actors Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, the cast of The Great Gatsby, Kevin Spacey, Elton John, Stevie Nicks and Dolly Parton in the country at the moment.

Lara Bingle LOOKS GREAT Sunbaking topless in Sydney

Sunbaking topless in Sydney without a care in the world, the 6 kilos Lara admitted to putting on recently have served her well!

"I like having boobs and a bum: I don't want to look like a bony boy with no hips," she told Who Magazine last month.

We think she looks amaze and why not flaunt it if you got it? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

George Clooney Turns on Charm for Sydney

GEORGE Clooney's first Sydney appearance yesterday was an understated affair. There was no red carpet to greet the Hollywood star, nor were there crowds of hyperventilating fans.

Instead, a mostly female audience of business executives gathered at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour to hear the famously handsome Clooney speak about his humanitarian work in Southern Sudan.

Welcomed with roaring applause, Clooney joked with his audience. "Thankyou for the weather," he quipped, as Sydney's spate of unseasonably cold and overcast days continued.

Clooney held court for about an hour, to the delight of the crowd.

"Any woman on the planet is going to be excited about meeting George Clooney," said Emma Isaacs, CEO of women's networking firm Business Chicks.

"I admire his philanthropic work and that he is using his profile to benefit the world ... his social work is what I'm interested in hearing about today."

Clooney was speaking at the Global Leadership Forum in his capacity as co-founder of Darfur aid organisation Not on Our Watch - which he created in 2007 with fellow actors Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt - and as co-founder of the Satellite Sentinel Project, which tracks war criminals in Sudan.

Other speakers at the event included entrepreneurs Jeff Taylor, hip-hop magnate Russell Simmons and domestic queen Martha Stewart.

For celebrity chef and author Maggie Beer, there were two good reasons to attend. "I'm here to see Martha Stewart and George Clooney," she said with a laugh.

When asked if she had offered to cook Clooney dinner, she replied: "If I had have been quick enough thinking, I would have."

Merril Skyring, a director at Deloitte, paid $1400 for a VIP ticket to the event. "I'm interested really in leadership and innovation so it's a great day for that ... and George Clooney, of course," Ms Skyring said. "I think people think he's just a movie star but he's actually a really strong political activist and human rights activist.

"I was really pleased to see him represent himself that way and then still be the Hollywood star at the end of it and make all the ladies swoon - it was gorgeous."

Clooney spoke about collaboration and the art of making things happen.

Fashion photographer Leah McQueen, who flew from New York to hear Clooney speak, said, "He kept me captivated for the whole time.''

After paying $1100 for a ticket, and leaving immediately after Clooney's appearance, was it worth it? "Yes, I think so," she said, smiling.

Clooney, who flies out of Sydney today, has made the most of his whirlwind trip. He saw Cate Blanchett in Sydney Theatre Company's Gross und Klein on Sunday, saying the Australian star was "very, very good".

Tony Robinson makes history in Newcastle

TO many he is Baldrick of Blackadder fame, to some he is children’s favourite Fat Tulip and to others he is that documentary-maker from the History Channel.
British television presenter Tony Robinson was filming in Newcastle yesterday for an episode in his next series Tony Robinson’s Time Walks.

In the ten-part series Robinson will uncover the hidden histories, characters and untold stories of some of Australia’s oldest cities, including Newcastle, while walking its streets.

Robinson expects to be in town until Wednesday.

They have already been to Hobart, Woolloomooloo, St Kilda, Carlton, The Lanes, Bendigo and in the new year will visit Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle.

The series follows Robinson’s hugely successful Tony Robinson Explores Australia.

Robinson said he had always been intrigued by Newcastle and how it compared to its British namesake.

‘‘I know it’s a coal town but the idea of a Newcastle with a beach did not quite compute,’’ he said.

‘‘When a town is known for one thing there are other histories buried away in there. That’s what I wanted to learn.’’

Robinson said he hoped to teach Novocastrians about their past for example, that a convict wrote Australia’s first dictionary in Newcastle.

‘‘I do know Captain Cook, when he got here found Nobbys but totally missed the magnificent harbour behind it.’’

He said there were similarities with Newcastle, England.

‘‘It’s got the same sense of grittiness about it,’’ he said.

More than 20 years since cult hit Blackadder finished Robinson said people still called out lines to him, which was nice because the show established his career.

People also asked him about his documentaries and the ABC hit archaeological series Time Team, which created demand for his work Down Under.

Crews would also be talking to people on Newcastle’s streets, he said.

‘‘So, if they do see me please do not sneak away.’’