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Serena claims fifth Australian crown

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 31/01/2010
Tennis betting

Serena Williams claimed her fifth Australian Open crown with an entertaining three-set victory against Justine Henin in Melbourne.

The 28-year-old number one seed and sportsbook favourite beat the Belgian 6-4 3-6 6-2 in two hours and seven minutes to win her 12th Grand Slam singles title, moving her level with Billie-Jean King in the all-time list.

Henin was playing in only her second tournament after an 18-month retirement but was ultimately undone by her opponent's better serve.

Williams saved 11 of 16 break points during the match and recovered from a spell midway through the match when Henin won ten successive points.

Who will win the men's Australian Open Final? - Latest Tennis Betting

In football, Chelsea have said they will stand by John Terry after the defender was named as the player who had had an affair with a team-mate's ex-partner.

An injunction stopping the media from reporting allegations about the England captain's private life has been lifted by the High Court on Friday evening.

Mr Justice Tugendhat removed the order which had been taken out by Terry to stop reports about his alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-partner, saying the information was in 'wide circulation amongst those involved in the sport in question, including agents and others, and not just amongst those directly engaged in the sport'.

An interim order had been granted at a private hearing in London eight days ago.

A Chelsea spokesman said: "This is a personal matter for John Terry. The club will give John and his family all the support they need in dealing with it."

Hearts have named Jim Jefferies as their new manager after parting company with Csaba Laszlo.

The 59-year-old, who spent five years at Tynecastle before leaving for a brief spell in charge of Bradford City, was axed by Kilmarnock earlier in the month.

In rugby union, full-back Lee Byrne is considering whether to appeal the two-week ban he has been handed for his role in the extra man row which has followed Ospreys' Heineken Cup win over Leicester Tigers.

Ospreys were also fined 25,000 Euros, but the ban handed down to Byrne means he will now miss Wales' Six Nations opener with England next Saturday.

Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel has ended the speculation surrounding his future by agreeing a new contract with Sale Sharks.

The 28-year-old was out of contract at Edgeley Park at the end of the season and had been linked with a return to Wales with both former club Scarlets and Dragons.

However, he has now pledged his future to the Guinness Premiership club for a further two years.

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