STANFORD, Calif. Taco Charlton Jersey . -- As Johanna Konta pounded the ball from every spot on the court Sunday and rarely missed, there were moments Venus Williams could do little more than applaud her opponents stellar day as winners whipped down the line and drop shots fell perfectly.With a crowd of 2,268 largely rooting for the American icon Williams, Konta regularly reminded herself to breathe to keep her mind on the match and not her daunting task.The hard-hitting Konta outslugged top-seeded Williams to capture her first career singles title at last while playing for her first championship, winning the Bank of the West Classic 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.Its actually quite an incredibly humbling experience. Its a great validation of the hard work youve been putting in and its a great motivator on the things you want to keep getting better at, she said. I played her twice previously. I knew going into it I was going to be playing against a magnitude of experience. Venus Williams doesnt need an introduction.Her serve and return games equally solid on another unseasonably hot day at Stanford, Konta held on in the third set after squandering a 4-1 lead in the second to open the door for Williams to come back.When Williams netted her forehand return on the third match point, Konta dropped her racket to the ground and covered her face in triumph before heading to the net for a handshake. After receiving her trophy and addressing Williams directly with a thoughtful compliment of the 36-year-old stars grace and game, Konta posed for a round of photos that this time will be all the more special.She played at such a high level today, Williams said. She saved her best tennis for the final, which is what you want to do.Konta is having a blast being part of British tennis right now, everyone riding high after Wimbledon with Andy Murray winning at home.Yeah, long live the Queen, guys, she said with a big grin.Over the 2-hour, 18-minute match, the third-seeded Konta figured out Williams big serve for the second time this year, standing some 10 feet behind the baseline to return it and generating pace from Williams regular serves of well higher than 100 mph.The 25-year-old Konta also stunned Williams with the straight-set victory in the first round at this years Australian Open. Coming into Sundays match, Konta considered her return game a key to whether she would win.She plays really well against me, so maybe she comes out and doesnt feel any pressure and just swings for it, Williams said. I tried to stay in there and fight. ... What can I say but give her credit.Konta became the fourth-oldest first-time titlist this year. A steady serve helped carry Konta to Sundays final. She nailed 11 aces and moved Williams all over the court with an array of powerful groundstrokes and timely drop shots.Konta, headed to the Olympics next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, also was the first British woman to reach the final at Stanford since Virginia Wades runner-up finish in 1981.Williams was seeking her third tournament win at Stanford and denied career singles championship No. 50 while playing for her 80th title. At 49 singles tournament wins, she remains second among active players only behind younger sister Serenas 71.Of course I wanted to win, but I imagine with any luck Ill have more chances to get another title, she said.Williams is projected to move up to No. 6 in the next rankings. She will play in Montreal this coming week before the Rio Olympics next month.See you all in Rio, she told the crowd before exiting the stadium. Travis Frederick Cowboys Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Zack Martin Cowboys Jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. http://www.cowboysrookieshop.com/Chidobe-Awuzie-Cowboys-Jersey/ . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cole Hamels gets to go home for the All-Star Game, a much-deserved honor for the Texas Rangers left-hander despite his struggles in consecutive games against the Minnesota Twins.Hamels matched a career high with six walks while throwing 109 pitches in 4 1/3 innings, but Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus had RBI triples as the Rangers rallied for a 6-5 victory Friday night.When you walk the amount of guys that I walked today, its nothing that I take very lightly, its something thats very frustrating, said Hamels, who was trailing when he left the game but had a no-decision. I just wasnt really getting ahead of hitters early and making them uncomfortable.Still, Hamels and center fielder Ian Desmond will represent the Rangers in the All-Star Game in San Diego next week.Hamels, who lost with just four innings of work last Sunday at Minnesota, isnt the only Texas starter to struggle lately. The Rangers extended their club record to seven straight games when their starter didnt pitch at least five innings.Coles a great pitcher. There are stretches in any one season that for any starter, they go through things like this. Coles going to be able to work through it, manager Jeff Banister said. Hell find the rhythm, find the release point, and hell be back to the Cole Hamels that we know that he is.Texas twice blew two-run leads before finally going ahead for good in the sixth. Nomar Mazara had a leadoff double against reliever Ryan Pressly (2-5) before Andrus tripled and scored the go-ahead run on Bobby Wilsons sacrifice fly.Tony Barnette (6-3) threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Hamels. Sam Dyson worked a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 20 chances.Odor had an RBI triple in the first inning before Prince Fielders single made it 2-0. Odor, who leads the Rangers with 16 homers, had three hits and was only a long ball short of the cycle.Miguel Sano hit a three-run homer, his 14th, to put the Twins up 5-4 in the fifth. Hamels faced only three more batters after that, walking the last two.We made Hamels work. I dont think hell say he was as sharp as hes been the last couple starts, but you get a guy up that high in pitch count through five, you did a nice job, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.The TTwins have the ALs worst record at 30-56. Chidobe Awuzie Jersey. The Rangers are the ALs top team at 54-34 even after winning for only the third time in a 10-game stretch that included three straight losses to Minnesota.Minnesota got even at 2-all in the second when All-Star third baseman Eduardo Nunez was credited with an RBI infield single. Hamels came off the mound to field the high chopper, but when he turned to throw to first nobody was there after novice first baseman Jurickson Profar had also gone after the ball.Shin-Soo Choo and Desmond had consecutive two-out RBI singles in the fourth to make it 4-2.SHORT HOPSTwins starter Kyle Gibson struck out six but allowed four runs in five innings, his shortest outing in his last six starts. ... Hamels had six walks for the third time in his career. The last had been in April 2013. ... Texas optioned Chi Chi Gonzalez to Triple-A Round Rock a day after he threw 124 pitches in 4 2/3 innings against the Twins. Left-hander Alex Claudio was recalled from that Triple-A team.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: CF Byron Buxton left the game with a bruised right knee after crashing into the outfield wall in the first inning when going after Odors triple. Buxton was taken off the field on a motorized cart. The Twins said hes day-to-day. ... SS Eduardo Escobar hasnt started since last Saturday because of a sore left hamstring. Manager Paul Molitor wants to get him in a game this weekend before the All-Star break.Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish (right shoulder) will make his next rehab start Sunday night for Double-A Frisco. ... RHP Keone Kela (right elbow) is scheduled to pitch in consecutive games for Frisco on Sunday and Monday. He hopes to rejoin the Rangers after the All-Star break.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Ricky Nolasco (3-7) makes his team-leading 18th start.Rangers: Kyle Lohse, a 37-year-old right-hander who signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on May 14, will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to start. The Rangers announced after Friday nights game that Nick Martinez (1-2) had been optioned to Double-A Frisco and will start for the RoughRiders instead Saturday night. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '

The Wall

No comments
You need to sign in to comment

Post

Added Jun 1 '17, 05:02PM

Rate

Your rate:
Total: (0 rates)