I'm not worthy of knighthood, says Murray

THE perks for winning the US Open have been savoured by Andy Murray but the world No.3 reckons his historic triumph had not been worthy of Britain's ultimate - a knighthood.

Murray hopes to enjoy a dream start to his Australian Open preparation by defending his Brisbane International title this week.

But the Scot's thoughts on Tuesday drifted to last year's US Open, admitting he had soaked up the benefits of ending British tennis' 76-year grand slam curse.

It added to the back slaps he earned a month earlier for winning London Olympic gold.

"A few weeks afterwards around the Olympics time and the US Open, I got a few upgrades on flights and things like that which is nice," a smiling Murray said.

"But that's died down a little bit over the last few months."

The accolades kept coming in the Queen's New Year Honours list in the form of an OBE.

But Murray, 25, seemed bemused by the British media's claim he should have risen with fellow Scot, Tour de France victor Brad Wiggins, as a knight.

"You need to do a lot for a long time to deserve an honour like that," he said.

"I've only been doing it for a couple of years so I think I'll definitely need to win a few more matches and have more tournaments to have a chance of getting that."

Not that Murray warmed to being called "Sir Andy".

"I think with the people around you, I think everyone just kind of stays the same (when knighted) - it'll be people that you don't know that will come up to you and address you as that," he said.

"But I wouldn't want my friends and family to call me like that."

Not much might change if Murray earns a knighthood but the rangy Scot admits his countdown to the Australian Open had after finally claiming his maiden grand slam on his fifth attempt.

"It's a little bit different. I probably just feel a little bit more relaxed maybe the last few weeks than I normally do a few weeks out from a slam," he said.

"I think a lot of people that follow tennis and were sort of general sports fans knew my story a little bit of how long it had been since any British player had won a slam and how many times I had lost in the finals.

"Especially after Wimbledon when I was very upset this year.

"It was very nice for me to finally be able to move on and not worry about that stuff anymore."

But Murray admitted the pressure of winning Wimbledon would always be there.

"I think there will be a lot of pressure again, but I don't think there will be more pressure than what I went through probably during Wimbledon this year, to be honest," he said.

"That was a tough tournament for me.

"I think whatever happens at Wimbledon this year ... I think I'll be able to deal with it better than I have done in the past."

Murray begins his Brisbane International title defence with a second-round clash against Australian qualifier John Millman.

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Ono masterclass sees Wanderers win

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Quality ... A Shinji Ono double helps deliver a Wanderers win. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

A freakish double strike by marquee star Shinji Ono continued Western Sydney Wanderers' remarkable rise in a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory at Parramatta Stadium.

The Japanese playmaker scored brilliant goals in either half in front of 13,659 fans as the Wanderers leapfrogged the Victory into third spot in their debut A-League campaign.

It was Tony Popovic's side's fourth win in five games to confirm their credentials as genuine title contenders.

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While the A-League's form player, Melbourne star Marco Rojas, hogged the pre-game headlines, it was Ono who stole the show.

He opened the scoring with a remarkable piece of technical skill in the 42nd minute and delivered again with a cracking late winner after Victory substitute Spase Dilevski had equalised seven minutes earlier.

The Wanderers coach paid tribute to his marquee man.

"He's a special player and he's been a special player for this football club since he first arrived,'' Popovic said.

"We're delighted for him. He's a great player, a great man and a perfect fit for this football club.''

However, he played down talk of the Wanderers making a run at the league championship.

"Not now, not after 14 games. I think it's still showing that everyone's beating everyone," Popovic said.

"We're in a good position at the halfway mark but we've got a lot of work to do.''

After resting a host of key players in last week's 1-1 draw with Perth, Popovic made seven changes to his starting line-up with Ono, Mark Bridge and Youssouf Hersi among those returning.

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The Wanderers looked the fresher side in the first half and created several clear-cut chances as the Victory couldn't find much in attack.

Bridge had a great chance to open the scoring in the seventh minute but blasted a volleyed attempt over the bar from Hersi's headed pass.

The visitors suffered an early blow with Gui Finkler forced off in the 10th minute with an knee injury.

The Wanderers continued to mount pressure and Ono finally achieved the breakthrough three minutes before halftime with a moment of magic.

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Nikolai Topor-Stanley headed the ball down field and the Japanese playmaker collected it on the volley, juggled it and finished superbly from the edge of the box.

The Victory tried to respond after halftime with Archie Thompson squandering a decent chance in the 54th minute.

The Wanderers suffered a scare midway though the second half as Ono was hurt in a challenge on Jonathan Bru but he was able to continue.

Western Sydney looked to put the result beyond doubt and had a decent penalty shout turned down before Nathan Coe made a brilliant save to deny Michael Beauchamp in the 65th minute.

The Victory kept fighting, though, and were rewarded when Dilevski created something out of nothing with a low drive from just outside the box that beat Wanderers 'keeper Ante Covic.

But it was Ono's day and he sent a passionate home crowd into raptures as he put the Wanderers ahead again with a curling, long-range effort.

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Geeves takes on Gayle and Haddin

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Feud ... Gayle v Haddin was a bit of entertainment says Brett Geeves. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Monday night was New Year's Eve. If you went to the Hobart waterfront and enjoyed the fireworks, you no doubt stepped over a broken glass, saw a fight between two teenage girls and waited more than three hours for a cab home.

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All this to witness someone standing on a pontoon, throwing half a dozen sparklers in the air.

Note to Hobart Council - a fireworks budget of $11.80 may have got the job done in 1985 – but it's not working for you in 2011.

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Sydney and Melbourne on the other hand, spent enough money to buy Gina Reinhardt's favourite knickers.

If the Falls Festival or any music festival was your thing, you're reading this stuck in a 5000+ car traffic jam, while police randomly (I'm pretty sure random doesn't mean every) breathe test cars and search them for Olivia Newton-John's ex-boyfriend, Patrick McDermott.

You probably haven't showered in three days and the fact you're wearing a turtle neck to cover the hickey on your neck is only adding to your god-awful smell. Enjoy your shower.

Maybe you attended a house party?

Someone spiked the punch and on the stroke of midnight you took the opportunity to kiss everyone too far.

Tongue kissing is for behind your high school gymnasium, the back seat of the movies, public transport and if you're from South Australia – family reunions.

You should not attempt to tongue kiss your girlfriend's grandmother on the stroke of the new year.

No amount of punch makes this acceptable, unless she looks like a wrinkly Anne Hathaway.

I am thinking most of you cricket-loving nuffies are deeply involved in the KFC T20 Big Bash League and possibly some of you enjoy bird watching, or birding as you would refer to it - making you a birder.

Ba Ba Ba Bird, Bird, Bird, Bird is the word.

Now, I hadn't planned on penning anything until day one of the next Test.

Mostly because I am lazy and if you are attempting mental imagery of me right now, think Jabba the Hut, wearing a KFC bucket head that was once actually full of chicken (what a plug!!) and a Nowitzki singlet that is now six sizes too small.

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Now think about Brad Haddin's attempt at upsetting Chris Gayle.

Now think about whether or not this was done as entertainment or if they are actually feuding.

Let's compare Gayle v Haddin and Muscle-man Manou v High-pants Hussey of 09/10.

Big Bash cricket was a different beast back then.

It was a pride-based beast where players were representing their states, as opposed to cities that most of them aren't from.

They wore clothes that bared their state's colours, the colours that are traditionally simple because that's how cricket should be – not the types of colours you could expect to see at a nine-year-old girl's slumber party.

So when Manou took exception to the antics of Dave Hussey, it meant something and if you watched the match and the way the crowd became involved, you knew that this was a rivalry that was not based on entertainment.

This had been built up over a decade of first class games and was as real as the troubles of Greece's economy.

The next time Dave Hussey played at Adelaide Oval in front of the SA fans, he was booed un-mercifully.

In true Hussey style he dominated. He lives for on-field controversy and thrives under the pressure of having to perform.

This was real cricket, played for real points and by men who cared for the result and not the pot of gold that was waiting for them at the end of the rainbow (rainbow is end of tournament).

Watching Gayle v Haddin felt like watching two school chums slowly grinding each other down to the point that one explodes and rips the others shirt, causing the kid with the ripped shirt to get a beating from his old man when he made it home.

That's what dads do when a school shirt is ripped. It's their rite of passage.

This was a feud made for entertainment, much like Family Feud or Judge Judy and should be taken as seriously as these two shows and current day wrestling.

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Paine too much for Scorchers

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Classy ... Paine played plenty of quality shots in his innings of 74. Source: Nikki Davis-jones / News Limited

Former Test gloveman Tim Paine has cracked the highest score of his tough comeback from injury to steer Hobart Hurricanes to a six-wicket win over Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena.

T20 - Blundstone Arena

1 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Hurricanes 1st Innings

T. Paine	74	57	7	2	129.82
G. Bailey	19	11	2	0	172.73
N. Coulter-Ni...	3.3	0	41	0	11.71

Paine finally returned to his best with 74 from 57 balls as the Hurricanes chased down Perth's 8-152 with nine balls to spare.

The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who was the heir apparent to ex-Australian gloveman Brad Haddin, has endured no fewer than six operations on the finger he broke in an exhibition Twenty20 match more than two years ago.

He put on 90 from 60 balls with Ricky Ponting (34 from 26) to lead the Hurricanes to their third straight win and third place on the KFC T20 Big Bash League ladder.

The Scorchers' three-game winning streak is over with their season now 3-3.

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Injuries could add to their woes with in-form batsman Shaun Marsh (6 from 11) unable to field after he was struck on the thumb by Hurricanes paceman Doug Bollinger (1-27).

And in a bizarre incident, Scorchers paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile (0-41) fell clutching an ankle halfway through his run-up before completing his spell.

The home side were 1-15 when opener Aiden Blizzard was caught for 12 from seven balls to bring Paine and Ponting together.

Their stand put the Hurricanes in the box seat before veteran spinner Brad Hogg (3-17) found himself on a hat-trick in the 12th over as he reduced the Hurricanes to 3-105.

But Paine and captain George Bailey (19 from 11) steadied to steer the home side to victory.

Earlier, veteran Perth skipper Simon Katich blasted the equal-second fastest fifty of the BBL season.

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The 37-year-old reached 52 off just 28 balls with a monstrous six off Bollinger, joining Melbourne Renegades' Aaron Finch behind Brisbane's Chris Lynn, who reached 50 from 27 balls against Perth.

Katich finished with 66 from 41 balls with five fours and four sixes.

The Scorchers had been 2-10 before the former Test opener combined with Marcus North (27 from 33) to put on 69 from 52 balls.

"(Twenty20) frees you up a little bit and I was probably suffering from a lack of confidence at the start of the year so it's nice to be back on track a little bit," Paine said.

Katich said his side had been caught out early in both innings.

"We were slow to start the game, probably our first three or four overs with the bat and then the same with the ball so you can't afford to in this form of the game," he said.

"You're always playing catch-up and that's what happened to us tonight."

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Roar outgun Phoenix in spicy clash

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Make: NIKON CORPORATIONModel: NIKON D4Date/Time: 2013:01:01 21:02:58 Source:AAP

New Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey unveiled more of his aggressive blueprint after his side showed flashes of their attacking brilliance with a 2-1 victory over Wellington on Tuesday night.

Quicksilver attacker Ben Halloran nailed the winning goal, his third of the A-League season, following some clever lead-up work by striker Besart Berisha and German gun Thomas Broich in the 58th minute at Suncorp Stadium.

It wasn't the performance Mulvey would have wanted.

But their were moments when the Roar looked a little like the side which had won the past two championships.

Wellington battled hard but finished the clash with nine players after 18-year-old Tyler Boyd (two yellow cards) was dismissed by referee Tim McGilchrist in the 64th minute and Leo Bertos was forced from the field late in the match following a head clash.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	14	9	3	2	13	30
2	Adelaide	14	9	1	4	7	28
3	Western Sydney	14	7	2	5	6	23
4	Victory	14	7	2	5	-2	23
5	Perth	14	5	3	6	2	18
6	Brisbane	14	5	2	7	1	17
7	Wellington	14	4	4	6	-1	16
8	Newcastle	14	5	1	8	-9	16
9	Heart	14	4	3	7	-3	15
10	Sydney	14	4	1	9	-14	13

Brisbane also finished with 10 players after James Donachie shown a red card for a dangerous challenge on classy Wellington striker Jeremy Brockie.

Backing up their 1-0 upset over Adelaide last weekend, Brisbane move from second bottom into sixth place.

Pre-game talk Mulvey might use the A-League's January transfer window to recruit a back-up striker fired up Berisha, who opened the scoring in the 14th minute by beating defender Ben Sigmund before slotting the ball past `keeper Mark Paston.

It was Berisha's first open goal since November and the Albanian dropped to his knees and kissed the turf.

Brockie went to the top of the A-League scoring list with 10 goals when his stunning 36th-minute strike levelled scores at 1-1 before halftime as Brisbane threatened to take control of game.

Wellington struggled at times to cope with the midfield creativity of German ace Thomas Broich, the slickness of Mitch Nichols and the height of Erik Paartalu who played a more central role under Mulvey.

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Their probing work repeatedly opened up the Phoenix defence as Berisha, Henrique and the ever-dangerous Halloran began running riot.

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Brockie's blistering equaliser seemed to rock the Roar's confidence with skipper Matt Smith and Nichols exchanging strong words as they left the field.

"We need to get our emotions going," said Broich of the half-time exchange between his teammates.
Broich said Brisbane had made life difficult for themselves.

"We had so many chances," he said.

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert said facial injuries to both Bertos and Alexander Smith late in the clash meant he would have to send for reinforcements for this weekend's showdown with Melbourne Victory.

Smith, who left the ground holding an ice pack to his left cheek, may have scans for a suspected fracture.

"We've probably got two players who might have cracked cheekbones; we'll wait and see," Herbert said.

"Alex Smith is the other one and it's probably from an elbow so hopefully that's looked at as well.

"He might have scans tonight.''

The A-League's match review panel could have a look at one or two incidents from the game including a clash involving Wellington defender Manny Muscat and Brisbane youngster Nick Fitzgerald which infuriated Berisha.

An upset Berisha earned a yellow card, his fourth of the season, for dissent after vigorously confronting referee McGilchrist and gesturing to him with his elbow.

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Hewitt wins in Brisbane

Win ... Lleyton Hewitt is through to the second round in Brisbane. Source: Darren England / News Limited

Lleyton Hewitt has shown all of his trademark fighting spirit at the Brisbane International to successfully start his warm-up for a 17th Australian Open campaign.

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Injury free for the first summer in many years, Hewitt slugged out a Brisbane debut to remember with a 6-3 4-6 6-2 win over Russian lucky loser Igor Kunitsyn on Tuesday night.

Despite being ranked 162 in the world, and only pitched into the first-round clash 10 hours earlier, Kunitsyn made the 31-year-old work all the way at Pat Rafter Arena.

The failed qualifier, who replaced an ill Radek Stepanek, was meant to be easy meat but roared to life late in the second set after pouncing on his first and only chance to break Hewitt.

Kunitsyn then appeared to have all the momentum at the start of the deciding set before the fired-up South Australian broke in the fourth game and never looked back in front of a full house of 5500.

Hewitt will now meet Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the second round after the world No.44 upset eighth-seeded Slovak Martin Klizan 6-1 6-2.

He'd originally been set down to meet Stepanek but the inaugural Brisbane International champion, who holds an overall 14-3 tournament record, was forced to withdraw with an eye infection.

While the Hewitt fight and "c'mon'' call was there, as well as his sharp court movement following radical ankle surgery last year, the world No.83 would be disappointed by taking his foot off Kuntisyn's throat in the second set.

He blew two break points when up 3-2 - including backhand drop volley - and then later lapsed surprisingly on serve at 4-5.

Prior to going under the knife, the two-time major winner had been struggling to build any momentum with his worsening toe injury gradually eroding his speed advantage and fitness edges.

But he looked in fine fettle throughout the course of the two-hour match.

Hewitt was pleased by his victory after admitting he was affected by the late change of opponent.

"When you've been preparing for three or four days to play someone then it changes it's always tough and especially when you're playing someone who's already had two or three matches in these conditions as well,'' he told the Seven Network.

"He's a good ball striker and had nothing to lose so I felt like it was a pretty high-standard match out there tonight.''

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