| 2070 Beiträge - Forenlegende
|
|
|
Melbourne, Australia- Stan Wawrinka put an end to Novak Djokovics three-year reign at the Australian Open on Tuesday. There will be no Down Under four-peat for Djokovic, as the eighth-seeded Swiss slugger Wawrinka outlasted the second seed 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 at Melbourne Parks Rod Laver Arena in yet another five-set thriller in their burgeoning rivalry. The intense affair was tied at 5-5 in the fifth set when a rain shower started to fall, forcing a brief stoppage. When the players returned to the court, with Wawrinka serving at 40-15 in the 11th game of the stanza, the sturdy Swiss swatted his 17th ace to grab a 6-5 edge. Five games later, the former world No. 1 Djokovic was serving to stay in the match, but his Swiss counterpart recorded the biggest break of the fortnight on the mens side when Djokovic misfired wide with one final forehand, sending Wawrinka into his first-ever Aussie Open semi and second career major final four. He also appeared in last years U.S. Open semis, only to lose to Djokovic. Tuesdays big-hitting bout was completed in four hours, including a 79-minute, 16-game final set. Wawrinka broke Djokovic five times, while the Serb settled for four breaks in the tough setback. Djokovic actually won eight more points than Wawrinka (161-153), but one more break of serve was the difference on Day 9. "I tried everything. Hes an amazing champion. He never gives up. Im really, really, really, really, really, really happy," Wawrinka said. The 28-year-old Wawrinka had dropped his last 14 matches against the 26-year- old Djokovic, who is now 15-3 lifetime against the Swiss. Wawrinka hadnt beaten him since 2006. Djokovic outlasted Wawrinka in a five-set epic in the fourth round in Melbourne a year ago and also topped the Swiss in a brilliant five-set U.S. Open semi in September. "He deserved this win today. I congratulate him," Djokovic said. "There is nothing I can say. I gave it my best. I gave it all. I tried to fight until the last point, as I did in a very similar match we did last year in the fourth round, same court, but it wasnt to be this time." The six-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic had won his last 25 matches at the Aussie Open, where hed captured three straight and four of the last six championships. The super Serb had also appeared in 14 straight major semifinals before this week, the second-longest streak in history behind only Roger Federer record mark of 23. Djokovics loss on Tuesday marked his first since falling to Rafael Nadal in Septembers U.S. Open final (28-1). He had also won his last 13 matches overall against fellow top-10 players. Djokovic was trying to become the first man in the Open Era to win four straight Aussie crowns. Wawrinka, who had been 2-28 against top-two players, including 0-6 at Grand Slam events, joins Federer as the only Swiss men to reach multiple Grand Slam semifinals. His semifinal opponent on Thursday will be seventh-seeded former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych, who upset third seed David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Berdych, like Wawrinka, will now appear in his first-ever Aussie semi. The "Big Four" of Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and Federer have combined to win 34 of the last 35 Grand Slam events. The 13-time major champion Nadal was the Aussie champ in 2009 and runner-up to Djokovic in 2012; Murray is a three-time runner-up, including last year against Djokovic; and the 17-time Grand Slam king Federer owns four Aussie titles and was the 2009 runner-up here to Nadal. http://www.maillotfrancefoot.fr/maillot-adil-rami-...rance.h tml . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. http://www.maillotfrancefoot.fr/maillot-christophe...rance.h tml . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.maillotfrancefoot.fr/maillot-yohan-caba...rance.h tml . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. http://www.maillotfrancefoot.fr/maillot-lassana-di...rance.h tml .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. http://www.maillotfrancefoot.fr/maillot-raphael-va...rance.h tml . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play.ATLANTA -- For a Jacksonville team coming off a 2-14 season, any win -- even in the preseason -- is cause for celebration. For an Atlanta team that won 13 games last season with a spot in the NFC championship game, the first priority was keeping key players healthy for the regular season. Falcons coach Mike Smith held out almost all his starters in Thursday nights 20-16 loss to the Jaguars. So he managed a postgame smile despite his teams 0-4 record in the games that dont count. "Our mindset this year more than anything was to try to get to that game No. 1 as healthy as possible," Smith said. "Weve done a pretty good job of doing that." Smith said his starters who have missed time with injuries this preseason, including receiver Roddy White (sprained ankle), cornerback Asante Samuel (thigh) and kicker Matt Bryant (back), "are on schedule" to return next week as the Falcons prepare for the opening game at New Orleans. Most Falcons regulars, including quarterback Matt Ryan, didnt even wear shoulder pads under their jerseys as their watched from the sideline. Jacksonvilles Jordan Todman and Atlantas Josh Vaughn made strong final bids to win backup jobs by running for touchdowns. Todman, who appeared in only one game in his 2012 rookie season, was trying to take advantage of the void created when Justin Forsett missed the entire preseason with a toe injury. Todman had nine carries for 60 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown run, in his challenge for a backup job behind Maurice Jones-Drew. "I feel like I left it all on the field every time that I have had a chance," Todman said. "Every time that I was out there, I went to the wall." Added Todman: "The best part is that we came out here and got a win." Vaughn, trying to win a job as Steven Jacksons backup, had a 65-yard touchdown run for the Falcons, who finished their second winless preseason in three years. The Falcons also were 0-4 in the 2011 preseason before making the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Atlanta won only one preseason game last year before winning the NFC South with a 13-3 mark. The Jaguars (1-3) also held out most of their starters. "It wasnt perfect at times, but I thought our guys really played hard and you appreciate that," said Jacksonville first-year coach Gus Bradley. Todman earned compliments for his play through the preseason. "Were excited about his consistency," Bradley said. "Hes had a good preseason. He ran hard and were really pleassed with him.ddddddddddddquot; Mike Kafka, Jacksonvilles third quarterback of the game, threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ebert early in the fourth quarter to give the Jaguars the lead. Falcons quarterback Dominique Davis was stopped on a fourth-and-goal run from the 3 with 1:51 remaining. Atlantas defence held and the Falcons took possession again at Jacksonvilles 41 with 1:24 remaining. Davis ran for 5 yards before throwing three straight incompletions. Davis, who played most of the game, completed 18 of 35 passes for 175 yards with an interception. Vaughn, who played on the Falcons practice squad in 2012, provided a rare offensive spark for the Falcons. Atlantas only other touchdown came on a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and return for a touchdown by defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi in the second quarter. Davis has spent the preseason as Ryans backup, but the Falcons could scan final roster cuts this weekend and add another quarterback. Teams must trim rosters to 53 players by Saturday. With Blaine Gabbert sidelined by a broken thumb, Chad Henne started at quarterback for Jacksonville and had his second pass intercepted by Falcons rookie cornerback Robert Alford. Gabbert, already chosen the Jaguars starter, is on pace to be cleared for the start of the regular season. Gabbert is expected to have the cast removed from his hand this weekend. Atlantas other rookie cornerback, first-round pick Desmond Trufant, picked off a pass from Chad Scott in the second quarter. Henne recovered to lead a six-play, 60-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter. Todman cut through the line for an 18-yard touchdown run. The Jaguars led 10-0 when Massaquoi provided the play of the preseason for Atlantas defence. Massaquoi sacked Scott for a loss of 8 yards at the Jaguars 9, forcing a fumble. Massaquoi picked up the fumble and ran in. Atlantas Jeremy Shelley missed the extra point. He was wide right on a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter. Shelley made a 42-yarder late in the first half. Scott completed 6 of 12 passes for 67 yards with the interception. Henne was 6 of 10 for 56 yards with an interception. Kafka completed 6 of 15 for 46 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. NOTES: Falcons rookie QB Sean Renfree, a seventh-round pick from Duke, left in the third quarter with a right shoulder injury. ... Scott had turnovers on back-to-back possessions, possibly damaging his chances. ... CB Demetrius McCray and third-string DE Pannel Egboh had sacks for Jacksonville. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
|
