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World number one Roger Federer believes younger players like Andy Murray are bringing the best out of him.

The 28-year-old lifted his 16th Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open after a straight-sets win over world number four Murray.

“Guys like Murray have made me a better player,” he said after a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) win on Sunday.

“I think this has been one of my finest performances in a long time, you know, or maybe forever.”

Federer’s win makes him the fifth man in history to win four titles in Melbourne.

The Swiss has also won Wimbledon six times, the US Open five times and the French Open once.

With the first major of the year under his belt, the calendar Grand Slam is now within his reach, but Federer claims it is not a target.

“I try to give my best everywhere I go to, because I think there’s not only the Grand Slams,” he said.

“I won’t just put the entire season just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. I mean, it’s something if it happens, if it does, it’s great; but it’s not something that’s like my number one goal. Not at all.

“It’s the same as I haven’t put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens, happens.

“I really want to try to enjoy the end to my career, because I’ve reached already so many goals I thought were never possible. I really want to just enjoy the tour, and that’s what I’m doing at the moment.”

Federer ended last year’s final in tears after an agonising five-set defeat by Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final that left him stranded on 13 Grand Slam titles, one short of Peter Sampras’ all-time record.

However, with Nadal injured, Federer secured an emotional first win at the French Open to draw level with Sampras before he broke the record at Wimbledon.

Federer’s win in Melbourne underlined his dominance of the men’s game, and the 28-year-old has not yet started to consider retirement.

“I know this is an incredible trip I’m on,” he said on Sunday. “We’ll see where it ends. I hope not any time soon.

“My game is not as taxing as other players’ games. I also think I have a very relaxed mind when it comes to the game of tennis.

“Off the court, it’s a matter of relaxing and enjoying it, seeing friends and family. There’s more important things than tennis after all.

“I think that’s something I’ve always had a clear vision of how my life is. I think that’s also helped me to go through tougher phases.”

Australia completed a 5-0 series sweep over Pakistan with a nail-biting two-wicket victory in the final one-dayer at the WACA in Perth.

Michael Hussey hit an unbeaten 40 the help the hosts reach their target of 213 with four balls to spare in the final over of a low-scoring thriller.

Skipper Ricky Ponting contributed 55 but a much-changed Australia team were pegged back by the dual spin threat of Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

Pakistan’s bowlers wouldn’t have had much to bowl at had it not been for contrasting half-centuries from Umar Akmal and Fawid Alam.
Having chosen to bat first, the tourists crumbled to 16-3 in the first powerplay, openers Salman Butt and Khalid Latif both failing to trouble the scorers while former skipper Younus Khan managed to make just three.

However Akmal led the recovery mission, his patient innings of 67, which included two fours and a six, coming off 102 balls.

He shared a stand of 60 with Shoaib Malik, who was run out by the returning Mitchell Johnson for 36, before Alam helped pick up the pace during an 82-run alliance for the fifth wicket.

Stand-in skipper Afridi managed just a single before falling to the in-form Ryan Harris (3-44), though Clint Mackay was the pick of the home attack with excellent figures of 4-35.

The Victorian seamer dismissed Iftikhar Anjum (16 off eight deliveries) and then Alam with successive balls in the 50th over - the latter the final wicket to fall - having made a sparkling 63 from 70 deliveries.

Attempting to chase down a modest total, Australia lost wickets at regular intervals to make sure the game remained in the balance.
Ponting top-scored with a half-century before becoming one of two wickets to fall to the off-spin of Malik, the other being that of Adam Voges for 24.

Afridi played his part with the ball too, bowling the dangerous Cameron White for 13 and then getting James Hopes caught out for six as the tension grew.

Hussey, though, proved to the thorn in Pakistan’s side. The left-hander took few risks during his 46-ball knock, though he relied on some help from the tail.

Mitchell Johnson chipped in with 13 while Nathan Hauritz hit 18 before number 10 Harris came out in the final over to help see Australia over the line, the winning run coming courtesy of a hip-high no-ball from seamer Iftikhar Anjum.

As if another defeat Down Under wasn’t bad enough for Pakistan, though, Afridi could find himself in hot water after television cameras pictured the all-rounder appearing to bite the ball whilst in the field.

The third umpire reported the incident to the on-field officials, who immediately ordered the ball be replaced.

There was further controversy later on when a spectator ran onto the field and rugby tackled Latif, who was not hurt in the incident, near the boundary’s edge.
Sky Sports

Roger Federer has claimed the Australian Open title after beating Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) in Melbourne.

The 28-year-old Swiss won his 16th Grand Slam title and fourth at Melbourne Park in two hours and 41 minutes under the lights at the Rod Laver Arena.

Sunday’s result means that Murray, who also lost to Federer in the final of the US Open in 2008, will have to wait if he’s to become Britain’s first Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry in 1936.

He never really recovered from an anxious start, allowing Federer to assume control in the opening two sets. The Scot initially battled back in the third set and could have won it after grabbing a break of serve.

However, he soon relinquished his advantage and after an enthralling tie-break, during Murray failed to convert five set points, his challenge was ended.

The 22-year-old came into the match playing arguably the best tennis of his career after dropping just one set and also beating defending champion Rafael Nadal en route.

But for all Murray’s endeavour during the past fortnight, he simply could not compete and if Sunday’s performance was anything to go by, he could find it difficult to topple the world number one so long as Federer remains at or near his peak.
Neither player’s serve was completely convincing in the opening set and Murray also showed early nerves with a double fault in his opening game as he was easily broken.

The fifth seed responded immediately to break back by pushing a running backhand past an advancing Federer before following it with a forehand passing shot.

As the muggy conditions, caused by afternoon showers in Melbourne, slowed up the speed of the balls, both players were content to play long rallies.

Murray’s counterpunching style suffered as a result and he was broken again in the eighth game after Federer hit a forehand winner before holding serve to clinch the opener.

He really started to take control of the match in the second set and broke Murray to love in the third game. Federer asserted himself with a whipped forehand cross-court winner - a shot which left Murray standing with his head bowed.

The Scot was feeling the pressure, missing a couple of routine groundstrokes, but fending off two break points in his next service game to cling on.

Federer was pulling all the strings thanks to some perfectly angled shots which left the latter running this way and that. The Swiss failed to convert four further break point chances but Murray could not achieve a break back to lose the second set 6-4.
However Murray finally began to show the sort of style which guided him to the final in the third set.

He broke Federer in the sixth game, converting with his third break-point chance - an angled forehand across court - after twice failing to make the passing shot.

The hitherto subdued crowd came to life as they sensed a revival from the Scot - Murray giving them a familiar roar of celebration in return.

But the comeback proved a false dawn as he was broken in the very next game with a timid volley, allowing Federer to take the set to a tie-break.

The decider proved enthralling as Murray battled to stay alive.

He passed up five set points before Federer won the match on his third championship point, the celebrations getting underway when his opponent blasted a backhand into the net.
Sky Sports

Serena Williams ended Justine Henin’s fairytale run in Melbourne as she claimed a 6-4 3-6 6-2 win to successfully defend her Australian Open title.

The world number one was pushed all the way by the unseeded Belgian who was playing in just her 12th competitive match following her return from an 18-month retirement.

A see-saw encounter looked to be turning Henin’s way as she hit a purple patch to take the second set, but Williams responded in characteristic style.

The American proved just too powerful in the decider as she raised her level and closed out victory to claim a fifth win at the tournament.

The triumph means Williams has now notched up 12 Grand Slam titles, drawing level with the great Billie-Jean King.

Both players made a rather nervy start to the contest, but Williams fought off a couple of break points to hold serve after an error-strewn opening game that featured four deuces.

It was to end up proving a familiar story for Henin who converted only five of 16 break points in the match, ultimately costing her dear.

Williams survived break points in her next two service games, but in between broke her opponent to love to forge into a 4-1 lead.

But cheered on by the crowd, Henin fought her way back into the encounter and a flashing forehand winner finally saw her break the Williams serve to get back to 4-3.
Having held to love the Belgian looked to be getting up a head of steam, only for Williams to then reassume control.

At 5-4, she went on to force a break point on Henin’s delivery at 30-40 and, while she survived that one, Henin came up with two errors, the second a back-hand that clipped the net and dropped wide, to gift her opponent the set.

But it was the Belgian who made the first move in the second set, the 27-year-old breaking to love with a running back-hand winner to edge 2-1 ahead.

She could not confirm the break, though, and dumped a forehand into the net to allow Williams back on terms.

At 3-3 on Williams’ serve, Henin fought back from 30-0 down and clinched another break after a deuce and that signalled her best period of the match.

She went on to reel off 15 unanswered points to clinch the set with a second break and, having held to love in the opening game of the decider, appeared to cut the more composed figure.

But having stopped the rot and levelled at 1-1, Williams found new reserves and earned herself a break to pull 2-1 ahead as Henin netted a volley.

The topsy-turvy encounter quickly swung again as three inexplicable errors from the American allowed Henin another chance to break, which she did after pouncing on a weak second serve with a booming forehand.

However, that was as good as things got for Henin and after firing a forehand wide in her next service game to fall behind again, she quickly found herself 5-2 down as Williams came on strong to force a double-break.

With that insurance in hand, the number one seed crossed the finishing line in some style, racing 40-0 up with some powerful serves before ending the contest on her second match point with a raking cross-court backhand winner.
Sky Sports

By Hani Taha Salim

“I am very secure in my place as a designer.” – Sarah Gandapur

There are not many like Sarah Gandapur who is so fearless and honest about herself and her work. A successful designer whose focus is on creating funky garments from ready-made or embellished fabric; who’s been regularly visiting India and Dubai and balancing that with taking out a publication single-handedly, and one who does not feature her clothes or shoots- she is a dynamic woman and indeed a very rare find. Her magazine is distributed in four major cities of India, and recently, she has landed exclusive interviews with Bohemia and Amra Palia, not to mention a highly coveted project in Bollywood.

Sarah is someone who can view the industry from both an outsider’s perspective as an editor and an insider’s, and knows its inner machinations all too well.

“There’s too much politics in the industry,” she speaks in her typical forthright manner. “Just because I’m not gay I don’t get any work from the gay network that operates so widely here,” scorns Sarah in reference to the recent advent of all and sundry into the fashion scene, “so why waste time on a Pakistani network, when I can get work from abroad!” she exclaims.

Sarah had shown at the Arabia Fashion Week in November (around the same time as Fashion Pakistan Week) and is now preparing to show in India in March. Why didn’t she show at FPW?

“I had already committed to Arabia so unfortunately couldn’t show here. It’s the same situation now. I wish I could have shown at the fashion week in Lahore but I have been invited to India as a fashion editor and as a designer for Kolkata Fashion Week.”

As someone who has been showing in Dubai for five years now, what is it that attracts buyers there?

“The desi community likes fusion clothes and the Arab community wants to wear Arab inspired clothes with a desi touch. For Pakistanis I’d take a good mix of clothes while for the Arabs I’d take more of kaftans. They like my work because of the eclectic clothes that I bring,” says Sarah.

“People like Amir Adnan and HSY are huge brand names in Dubai,” Sarah continues, “but they have a classic look that is identifiable and I like to experiment - I end up selling more since my clothes are affordable. Also I am very secure in my place as a designer and have personally given HSY and Umar Sayeed’s numbers to clients who are looking for stunning traditional bridals.”

In a place as versatile as Dubai, Sarah presents Pakistani ethnic and fusion lines, kaftans, hand-embroidered semi-formals. The hand embroidery she says are the biggest hit.

“Everyone was showing gowns so I stood out,” she recalls, “the Indians showed variations of saris. With my creations, it’s all about the use of bright colours and the cut. And I booked the most on the multi-purpose versatile pieces that can be used as separates. I always keep two to three days after the shows to book clothes.”

Ever-prepared for any situation, Sara shares that; “I carry a few extra pieces and sometimes people even buy clothes off the ramp! What I usually do though is get a sim beforehand and a get a few cards printed to distribute to prospective buyers/clients. People abroad don’t complain as much as the clients here and allow room for experimentation, so it’s less hassle, lots of fun and more profitable. But they still need reassurance that the garment delivered to them would be of the quality they expect”.

Considering how often she visits Dubai and India, why hasn’t she yet begun to stock there formally?

“To stock in Dubai, you need to send a certain amount of clothes at certain times to any store or retail outlet that would stock your collection,” Sarah says, “so it’s a little difficult to manage because you need to keep a stringent check on the production lines. I’m trying to expand so I’m looking around for the most viable place for me to stock. So far I’m stocking informally through friends in India and Dubai through regular exhibitions.”

Frills, jalibyas and acumen: Aysha Saim

Just the title of the collection, ‘Around the World in 21 Minutes’, is arresting enough for one to notice Aysha Saim, one of the two designers that represented Pakistan this season at the Dubai Fashion Week. A raw entrant into the fashion industry, Aysha has been dabbling in fabrics since the last two years via her chain of retail embroidered fabric stores, Frilz.

Armed with a fashion and make up diploma from Germany, she ingeniously debuted in Dubai with a demi-couture line of gowns, kimonos and dholak shalwars, all of which were crafted from taffeta, chiffons and silks from her own store. It was a line that was “very well received amongst buyers”, according to a proud Aysha. “The audiences saw my collection as four collections in one actually. They really enjoyed the variety that I had presented starting from a dramatic salsa dress which the model walked in to the salsa beats; to my butterfly themed balloon dress, which created the most hype since coincidentally the theme of the Dubai Fashion Week this time was butterflies but it was kept a secret till we actually got there.”

An astute businesswomen, all of Aysha’s pieces were liberally strewn with frills to reinforce her brand. It served as the most sensible and resourceful way of marketing oneself on an international platform.

“Dubai is where you can truly gauge your potential as a designer,” says Aysha, whose designer pseudonym is ASH - an alias that interestingly arose great curiosity as to the nationality of the brand.

“In Pakistan one can always be successful on the basis of one’s family background, socio-political standing or ‘contacts’. Abroad, especially for someone as fresh as myself, there is no such thing as ‘contacts’. This was my very first fashion show, I have never done one even in Pakistan, but am planning one sometime soon.”

Any interesting incidents to share from Dubai, since she was the only woman representing Pakistan, and it was her first time doing the ramp?

“Well there were a few dresses to which there was a bikini top and two days before the event we were told that we cannot present such revealing clothing in Dubai. So I had to personally stitch corsets to go with them with a needle and thread with my own hands!”

So why did Aysha jump the gun and not show at the Fashion Pakistan Week?

“Previously DFW was clashing with FPW so I didn’t register for Pakistan. Then the dates got changed and I didn’t get the time to register. I wish I had and hope that I can show at our next fashion week. I am going again to Dubai in December though to launch my store there since we found an excellent buyer at the fashion week itself! Then I will also show in Dubai again in March.”

Aysha’s next collection will be aimed strictly towards buyers who she revealed are interested in jalibyas, gowns, abayas and ponchos. She may be fresh on the block, but Aysha Saim knows the tricks of the trade and how to take fashion to the next level- as a serious business venture.
Instep TODAY

DAVOS: Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, on Friday promised 10 billion dollars (7.2 billion euros) to develop “miracle” vaccines for the world’s poorest nations.

Gates announced at the World Economic Forum that the money will come over the next decade from the foundation he runs with his wife Melinda, and that vaccines will become the charity’s top priority.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has now committed more than 25 billion dollars to various health projects, especially targeting AIDS and polio and other diseases that hit poor countries.

“We must make this the decade of vaccines,” Gates said in Davos. “Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries.

“Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before.”

Increased vaccination could save more than eight million children by 2020, he added, but called on governments and the private sector to do more.

“Increased investment in vaccines by governments and the private sector could help developing countries dramatically reduce child mortality by the end of the decade,” Gates said in a statement.

Melinda Gates added: “Vaccines are a miracle — with just a few doses, they can prevent deadly diseases for a lifetime.

“We?ve made vaccines our number-one priority at the Gates Foundation because we?ve seen first hand their incredible impact on children?s lives,” she added.

UN agencies and campaign groups welcomed Gates stunning announcement.

“The Gates Foundation?s commitment to vaccines is unprecedented, but needs to be matched by unprecedented action,” said World Health Organisation director general Margaret Chan.

“It?s absolutely crucial that both governments and the private sector step up efforts to provide life-saving vaccines to children who need them most.”

One, the activist group set up by rock singer Bono to fight against poverty and preventable disease, said Gates’s money “is a testament to their belief in catalyzing transformative change.”

But it also said that western governments and institutions must “accelerate their own investments in effective organizations.”

Gates began working full time at the Foundation after stepping down from heading up Microsoft business operations in July, 2008.

He is in Davos as the world’s leading philanthropist and his activities overshadowed those of the political and business elite at the Swiss ski resort.

Meanwhile at the meeting, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou sought to shore up international support for his country as its borrowing costs shoot up and debt problems in Greece and other countries put pressure on the euro.

Reaffirming his determination to cut the 12.7 percent budget deficit, the prime minister acknowledged the country’s troubles over the past year including serious riots in Athens before his socialist PASOK party won an election.

“The riots that we had last year were at the height of the scandals in our political life,” he said.

“Banks were being bailed out then, there was corruption and there was no legitimacy in the political system.

“We have re-established legitimacy and there is great support for us even from the younger generation.”

Papandreou said: “It is important that whatever we do it is seen as just. It may be painful but it must be seen that we are all paying for the burden.” And he insisted that the government would protect the unemployed.

“We do have to make sure that in carrying out this austerity programme we don’t push the bottom rung out into desperation,” he said.

Other leaders held talks on climate change, focusing on a summit to be held in Cancun, Mexico this year after the widely criticised UN summit in Copenhagen in December.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said the cost to governments of climate change would be central to the success of any campaign but admitted there are “low expectations” for the summit.

He said the battle against climate change must also be a battle to create a new kind of jobs. “We aim to reach a robust, substantial and comprehensive agreement,” he said.
Saama News

LINCOLN: Pakistan colts in a hard-fought final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup were beaten by 25 runs against Australia boys with 20 balls remaining here on Saturday.

Both teams were running to win the title for the third time in the history of Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Chasing a moderate target of 208 runs, Pakistan batsmen batted well against sea winds and accurate Aussie bowlers but could make182 runs in 46.4 overs.

Captain Azeem Ghumman was the top-scorer with 41. He batted with calm and caution hitting only one four in 90 balls.

However, Hammad Azam, the most prolific scorer who has been unbeaten throughout the tournament could not maintain his record and was dismissed for a nought, caught behind by Triffitt off Hazlewood. His early ouster made a panic in the Pakistan team’s dressing room.

Earlier, Pakistan winning the toss decided to send Kangaroos first and kept their grip tight over the match.

Sarmad Bhatti grabbed three wickets and Fayyaz Butt claimed two as the Aussies were 207-9 in 50 overs in the final counter of tournament.

Though Pakistani pacers successfully claiming wickets on regular intervals but they failed in keeping run rate down while the Aussies persistently collected ones, twos, three and certain times boundaries and out of the park.

The leading run scorers from Australian side were JS Floros (35), TJ Armstrong (37) and KW Richardson (44).
Geo Super