Sports. Djokovic cleans up Down Under By Josh Martin, Sports Editor ennis superstar Novak | Djokovic is unstoppable. No one seems to be standing in his way. And with the pace he’s going at... no one will in the foreseeable future. Last week Djokovic took home his third Australian Open title with a 5-7, 6-4 , 6-2, 6-7, (5), 7-5 gallant effort win over arch-rival Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final in history—a gruelling five hours and 53 minutes. It marked Djokovic’s fifth Grand Slam championship title and his third in a row—which have all been against none other than the Spaniard, Nadal. Djokovic has now beaten Nadal seven times in a row, however this particular match may be the most memorable between them yet as it was the first time the pair had ever gone to five sets against one another. Nadal started the match off with confidence, taking the first set 7-5 however, the 24-year- old Serbian responded with a commanding grip—forcing Nadal to sprint from one side of the court to the other like a lap dog in the next two sets, winning 6-4 and 6-2. The fourth set went right down to the wire with Djokovic needing just one more win to take home the title, but there was no way “Rafa” would give up that easy. He came back in a dramatic fashion to take the set 7-6. By the final set, both players were physically exhausted. At one point the pair even had a 31-shot rally going—which Nadal finally won after Djokovic committed a backhand error. The big Serb fell flat on his back on the court, sprawled out... while on the other side of the court, Nadal, was keeled over on his side with his hands @ Novak Djokovic on his knees. It seemed as though Djokovic injured himself on the play as he was especially slow in getting up, however he didn’t give up. “At that point I was just thinking of getting some air and trying to recover for next point,” he said. “Thousand thoughts going through the mind. Trying to separate the right from wrong. Trying to prioritize the next point. I’m playing against one of the best players ever—the player that is so mentally strong. He was going for everything or nothing. “ From then on, the rest was history. Djokovic took the final set 7-5 ending the game at a total of five hours and 53 minutes, surpassing the duration of Mats Wilander’s win over [van Lendl at the 1988 U.S. Open, which took four hours and 54 minutes. After the top two tennis players in the world shook hands, the celebrations began for the Serbian. Djokovic tore off his sweat-soaked black shirt and ran towards the players’ box, pumping his arms over and over again and roaring in complete ecstasy. The number one player in the world just won the Australian Open title and beat Nadal for the seventh consecutive time... what isn’t there to roar about? He will be competing in the French Open at Roland Garros (a clay court Grand Slam, might I add) in May where there will be some tough competition waiting for him with home player Nadal—who holds the name “The King of Clay,” having been so successful on clay courts in the past. It will be quite the matchup, especially if the two stars happen to meet up once again. Pro Bowl wrap-up @ Brandon Marshall By David Hollinshead, Staff Writer that the Pro Bowl is pointless, and is only used to fill up the two weeks before the Super Bowl. The players don’t hit, or block, or cover, and it lacks anything competitive. Yet, it is still held annually as an honour. But professional football can’t be played for fun. There’s too high of a risk of injury. No one told Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall this. He decided that while everyone else was playing half-speed, he would use this opportunity to light it up. With a touchdown catch in each quarter, Marshall was named the Most Valuable Player of the game, and joined legends like Walter Payton and Jerry Rice with a banner on the rafters of Aloha Stadium. “You know what? I wanted it,” he said. “It’s a Pro Bowl. Some guys are playing 100 [per cent], some guys are playing 90, some guys aren't playing at all, but it means a lot to be up in the rafters with some of these guys.” This Pro Bowl! also marked the only time that two rookie quarterbacks took part. Carolina Panthers first overall draft choice Cam Newton, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton, the fourth quarterback selected to play, was only due to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady playing in the Super Bowl. Dalton would have the much better day though, as he went seven for nine for 99 yards and two touchdowns, both to Marshall. Newton went nine for 27 for 186 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Three receivers on the NFC squad had games over a hundred yards, to the AFC’s one. Carolina’s Steve Smith was Newton’s favourite target, with 118 yards and a touchdown. Atlanta tight [« become common knowledge end Tony Gonzalez had 114 yards, and Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald had 111 yards and three touchdowns. The NFC took an early first quarter 14-0 lead with back-to- back Fitzgerald touchdowns from Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but the AFC tied it up in the same quarter as Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would hit Dalton’s teammate A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall with their own back-to- back scores. The second quarter saw both teams make changes at quarterback, and the scoring went back and forth. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees hit teammate tight end Jimmy Graham for a two-yard touchdown. Marshall would then get his next touchdown from San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers on a 29-yard pass. Brees then hit Rodgers’ teammate Greg Jennings on an 11-yard touchdown before Rivers connected with teammate Antonio Gates to tie it up at halftime 28-28. The second half was given to the two rookie quarterbacks, and both Newton and Dalton would play the rest of the game. Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski had a beautiful 37-yard field goal giving the AFC their first lead. Newton, however, answered with a 55-yard strike to Smith to give the NFC the last lead it would have, as the AFC would begin a rout, scoring four consecutive touchdowns, two included Dalton throwing to Marshall, one was a Vonta Leach fullback dive, and the other one came courtesy of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson who returned an interception for a touchdown. The NFC scored one more touchdown at the end of the game with Newton connecting with Fitzgerald for a final time to end the score at 59-41 for the AFC.