Melbourne  - Australian Open semi-finalist Elena Dementieva credits the winter warmth of Miami for giving a turbo boost to her tennis in 2009.

Instead of fighting the Moscow weather and training indoors with snow outside, the world number four got herself to Florida for uninterrupted weeks of solid preparation.

The system paid off, with two titles so far this season and a semi-final spot at the Open.

Melbourne  - Jelena Dokic and Roger Federer provided a power punch for Australian Open ratings this week, with those contests watched by only a slightly smaller number of viewers than the 2008 men's final.

The Seven network scored a hit with the programming one-two, which attracted 2.31 million viewers across the five major metropolitan markets

When Novak Djokovic beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the men's final a year ago, the audience was a slightly higher 2.34 million.

Melbourne  - A group of 65 sportsmen already challenged it before Belgian courts, but the new World Anti-Doping Code received a severe blow Wednesday from one of the biggest names in sport, tennis world number one Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard is outraged about a rule that forces high-performance sportsmen to say where they are going to be for an hour each day, 365 days a year.

"I think it shows a lack of respect for privacy," Nadal said after qualifying for the semifinals of the Australian Open. "I think it's a disgrace, particularly knowing what our sport is like."

Melbourne, Jan 28 : Actress Olivia Newton-John's former partne

Melbourne, January 28 : The Australian Defence Force has compensated TV celebrity Tania Zaetta for damaging allegations that she had sex with Special Forces soldiers while entertaining troops in Afghanistan.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon received a document making the allegations in May last year, but later they turned out to be untrue.

A Defence statement revealed that ADF chief Angus Houston met with Zaetta on Tuesday to personally apologise to her and her family "for any hurt and distress they may have suffered."

Melbourne, Jan. 28 : Spain''s Fernando Verdasco has entered his first grand slam semi-final. In an upset result at this year''s Australian Open, 14th seed Verdasco beat fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Having led his country in the absence of Rafael Nadal to victory over Argentina in Davis Cup last year, Verdasco now has the chance to register another upset in the semis where he could face the world No. 1.

Tsonga, last year''s beaten Australian Open finalist, had his chances, only to squander them with a lack of discipline on big games.