Taiwan break even

8226; The Bryans will be there, of course. And it8217;ll be tour veterans Max Mirnyi and Jonas Bjorkman who face the defending champions in the men8217;s doubles final at the Australian Open.

Sweden8217;s Bjorkman, and Mirnyi, of Belarus, were the only pair who were not the Bryans to win a major title last year, denying the American twins a season Grand Slam at the French Open.

SEED KILLER

8226; Serena Williams has climbed 77 places in the rankings in just two tournaments this year, and guaranteed herself a spot in the top 20 by reaching the final of the Australian Open. She8217;ll go to 14 if she wins on Saturday. Williams plummeted to 140, her worst ranking in almost a decade, in 2006 during an injury-plagued season in which she played just four tournaments, before climbing back to end the year at 95.

SIX MONTHS FOR PEEKING

8226; A Japanese student was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison for secretly taking photographs up a woman8217;s skirt at the Australian Open.

Takuya Muto pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates8217; Court to stalking, illegally using an optical device and offensive behavior after he was caught earlier in the week taking a photograph up a woman8217;s skirt at the tennis tournament.

Investigators also found he had secretly recorded women showering at a local backpackers8217; hotel.