SELBY SCALPED BY WORLD NO.95

Darts history-maker special when tennis

SUPERMUM Fallon Sherrock only realised she had done something special for women’s sport when tennis legend Billie Jean King sent her congratulations on Twitter.

As the new Queen of Alexandra Palace absorbed the enormity of her Christmas miracle, Sherrock gasped: “Who would have thought someone like that would tweet me?

“I mean, I am me! I am just a normal person from Milton Keynes. This stuff doesn’t happen to normal people, it’s incredible.”

The truth, of course, is that a hairdresser from Bletchley, who sprays graffiti all over the bookies’ odds of 2,000-1 at the William Hill PDC World Championship, is not just a ‘normal’ girl next door any more.

Sherrock had already made history by becoming the first woman to beat a bloke at the World Championship when she knocked out Ted Evetts in the first round. But by toppling Austria’s world No.11 Mensur Suljovic 3-1 on Saturday night, with the fancy dress battalions at Ally Pally reaching fever pitch, she has elevated herself into the superstar bracket.

Six-time Wimbledon champion Mrs King does not send personal messages on social media to any old Tom, Dick or Harriet. As a standard-bearer for women’s rights and humanity, she knows her onions.

And whether she likes it or not, Sherrock is no longer just a darts player who won the nation’s hearts on primetime TV in the Christmas party season.

She is now a champion of the sisterhood and sporting mums. All for winning two games of darts – brilliantly.

Most people thought she would bow out gracefully when Suljovic came calling. But never mind going out with a whimper, we’ve got the crimper.

Sherrock’s finishing – landing 69 per cent of her checkouts – was sensational.

MARK SELBY’S German Masters hopes were wrecked by world No.95 Jamie Clarke yesterday. Selby, just crowned player of the decade for winning the most ranking titles since 2010, lost 5-4 in his final play-off in Barnsley. The three-time world champion (above) – rated 91 places higher than Welshman Clarke – recently clinched the English Open and Scottish Open, but will miss out on a trip to Berlin for a tournament he previously won. Selby led 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 and never trailed until the deciding frame. But Clarke, 25, who had not won a match or earned a single pound in his professional career before last week, held his nerve to pull off a sensational shock win. World No.2 Mark Williams made breaks of 61, 92 and 72 in beating Mark King 5-2.