BRISBANE, Australia - Roger Federer turned the Brisbane International final into a grand occasion Sunday, beating the up-and-coming Canadian Milos Raonic in three see-sawing sets to register his 1,000th career match win.Its a grand number for a 17-time Grand Slam champion, making him the only player after Jimmy Connors (1,253) and Ivan Lendl (1,071) to win 1,000 times on the mens professional tour.Clearly its a special day for me, winning a title plus getting to the magic number of 1,000, Federer said after his 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4 win against third-seeded Raonic. It feels very different to any other match Ive ever won. All those (milestone) numbers didnt mean anything to me, but for some reason 1,000 means a lot because its such a huge number. Just alone to count to 1,000 is going to take a while.Federer clearly wanted to reach the milestone before the Australian Open, breaking Raonics serve in the third game and again in the opening game of the second set. He fired eight of his eventual 21 aces in the first set, taking on the big-serving Canadians strength. Just as it appeared Federer would coast to a comfortable victory, though, Raonic shook off his nerves to break back in the fourth game of the second set and swing the momentum.Federer had another half-chance to clinch it in two, getting an early mini-break in the tiebreaker, but Raonic went on a roll to win seven straight points and level the match.The 33-year-old Swiss star responded by serving an ace to open the third set, but he needed all his experience to save three break-point chances in that lengthy game.Tension continued to build as Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., was forced to save two break points in each of the fourth and sixth games, and missed two chances on Federers serve in the fifth.Only one point went against serve in the next three games until Raonic was serving to stay in the match. He was leading 30-15 when Federer produced a pin-point topspin lob that forced an error, and then came a double-fault — Raonics first of the set and fourth of the match — to give Federer a championship point.Raonic netted a forehand on the next point, and Federer raised his arms to acknowledge the Federer 1,000 placards and red-and-white Swiss flags being waved around Pat Rafter Arena.Looking back its almost nicer winning this way through a tight match with nerves and humid conditions against a great player in a final, Federer said. It means so much more than just running away with it. I guess I was much more happy having to go three sets in the end.Raonic said he did everything he could but didnt quite have the answer to beat Federer for the second time in their nine head-to-heads. Still, he didnt mind being part of the big occasion.Its great to see because you know how much hes done for tennis. He turned pro I think it was like 10 years before me, Raonic said. Its great to see everything hes done for tennis. The fans hes brought, the media attention hes brought ... hes definitely the most popular tennis player of all time.Ballboys held up 1,000 in big, white numerals near the net during the presentation ceremony, when Federer accepted mementoes from Australian tennis greats Roy Emerson and Rod Laver: the Roy Emerson Trophy and, from Laver, a framed montage of images with the words Congratulations Roger, 1,000 match wins.Special moment. Im glad I got it, Federer said. To get to 1,000 match wins in front of you guys ... it really means a lot to me. Ill never forget this match.In a career of so many milestones, Federer welcomed another and was glad to get it done before the season-opening major.He hasnt added to his collection of Grand Slam titles since his 2012 Wimbledon triumph, but showed signs last year hes no spent force by finishing No. 2 in the rankings, helping Switzerland to its first Davis Cup crown and finishing the season with five titles and a 73-12 record.Federer said he hasnt got Connors record number of wins in his sights, yet, but he does have ambitions to win more major titles. That quest begins Jan. 19 at Melbourne Park, where he hasnt returned to the final since winning the last of his four Australian Open titles in 2010.Yeah, I do believe that, he said. Clearly I do believe I have a shot in Melbourne, otherwise I would go home. Steven Souza Jersey . - Whether its because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career. 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Darren Collison and Blake Griffin scored 23 points apiece and the Clippers beat the Suns 112-108 Wednesday night, their fourth win in a row and 17th in the last 19 games.LONDON -- After all the talk of terror threats, corruption, overspending and anti-gay legislation, the head of the Sochi Olympics is determined to show the world the games will be a huge success. Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. "History will be made," he said of Russias first Winter Games. With Sochi facing threats of terrorist attacks from insurgents from the North Caucasus, Chernyshenko said the city is the "most secure venue at the moment on the planet" and promised that tight security measures will not detract from the atmosphere of the games. "I can assure you that Sochi will be among the most security-friendly games and all the procedures will be very gentle and smooth," he said in a conference call with reporters. Russia is deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers to guard the Olympics. A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for back-to-back suicide bombings that killed 34 people in Volgograd in late December and threatened attacks on the games. "You will see thousands of (security) people around but its important to understand that the Olympics is a global event and the security is also a global multi-national event and state authorities are doing (their) utmost to deliver Sochi as safest for everyone," Chernyshenko said. Referring to the Russian law banning gay "propaganda" among minors, he repeated assurances that Russia will not discriminate against anyone at the Olympics on the basis of sexual orientation. However, Chernyshenko appeared to contradict IOC President Thomas Bach, who said Monday that athletes -- prohibited by the Olympic Charter from political demonstrations or gestures on the medal stand and other venues -- would be free to express their personal political views at news conferences. "I dont think they are allowed by charter to express those views that (are) not related to the sport at the press conference room," Chernyshenko said, adding that organizers had set up a protest zone -- or "Speakers Corner" -- in the city. The uproar over the gay law, as wwell as criticism of Russias human rights record and Vladimir Putins policies, has led a number of Western political leaders to shun the Feb.dddddddddddd 7 opening ceremony and the games. Chernyshenko, however, said the number of world leaders attending the ceremony would be "the highest in the history of the Winter Games." He declined to give the number. The Sochi organizing committee said later in an email that heads of state or government from 52 countries would be attending. Russia is spending a record $51 billion on the games, including the long-term infrastructure investment in roads, tunnels, railways and hotels to turn Sochi into a year-round resort. Critics allege that billions of dollars have disappeared in kickbacks and other corrupt deals. Chernyshenko dismissed suggestions that claims of misspending had tainted the games. "If you come and look around, this is the most state-of-the-art sports facilities in the world," he said. "Everything will be the cutting edge. This would not have been possible if these allegations of so-called corruption were true. The stadiums, the roads, the new hotel rooms -- this infrastructure speaks for itself." Ticket sales have also been an issue, with many foreign fans staying away, raising concerns over the prospect of empty seats. Chernyshenko said more than 70 per cent of the tickets have been sold, with 20 per cent set aside for fans to buy on site at box offices. "Its high demand, long queues," he said. "Im quite confident that the stands will be full." Chernyshenko, who comes from Sochi and has worked on the Olympic project for a decade, said he had no regrets despite all the criticism that has been levelled at the games. "Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and now Sochi has really become brilliant and a showcase of new Russia," he said, calling it "the role model, the blue print for the rest of the country to follow." Meantime, Chernyshenko said, Sochi has plenty of snow and the three Olympic Villages will open to the athletes on Thursday. "Were fully ready," he said. "Were in a great shape. Everything is in place. The only thing remaining is for the athletes to come and shine at the venues. Everything so far is perfect." 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