PARIS – Milos Raonic almost seemed offended by the question. On Wednesday, Raonic was asked about the challenges that will come facing Frenchman Gilles Simon at the French Open on Friday with a partisan Parisian crowd likely looking to influence the outcome of the third-round match. "The lines are the same, courts are the same, go out there and play tennis," Raonic said describing his approach. So, a hostile crowd doesnt bother the eighth seed at all? "I hope not," Raonic quipped. The Thornhill, Ont. native is used to playing in enemy territory. Last year he beat Frenchman Michael Llodra, ranked 55th at the time, in four sets in the second round at Roland Garros. He beat James Blake in straight sets in the third round of the US Open in 2012 although the American did enter the match ranked 114th. Raonic has fallen victim to the hometown hero at a slam, though, losing to former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in four sets at the Australian Open two years ago. But Raonic insists the Australian fans had no impact on him. "I think the only thing it really brought out was the best in Lleyton. I dont think it really got down on me. I have been in situations since then, I have played James in New York, so I have been in similar situations and I cant really predict, assume, or worry too much about whats going to be happening and whats going to be said. Ive got to focus really on just playing." Most recently, Raonic posted an impressive five-set marathon win over Janko Tipsarevic during Davis Cup play in Belgrade last year. He lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets a couple days later although the opening set went to a tiebreak. "Its never easy playing Novak with a Serbian crowd. There are many situations I have already been in. I have learned from them and I just keep it within myself. I just focus on myself," the 23-year-old said. Simon and Raonic played just once before with Raonic triumphing in a tight three-set battle in Portugal (Estoril) three years ago. "I played him on clay there," Raonic said. "I think Im a much better player than I was back then, but at the same time I believe he plays much better here than he does throughout the rest of the clay events." Simon, the 29th seed, has cruised through his first two matches of this years French Open dropping just 11 games. In contrast, Raonic has lost 23. "Its going to be a difficult match," Raonic said. "But I think I will have my opportunities to take control and dictate and thats going to be the most important thing." Raonic has run into some rough patches early in his two matches in the French capital. He was forced into a tiebreaker in the opening set against Jiri Vesely on Wednesday ultimately besting the 81st-ranked Czech 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-1. "I felt like in the beginning I was just missing a little bit of intensity and I was letting him dictate a little bit too much. Then in the important moments I played the right way," Raonic explained. "At the beginning of the second, I sort of fell into the same slump a little bit with intensity, but then I feel like I did the right thing for the rest of the match and I gave myself plenty of opportunities." Raonic was asked why, at times, intensity is an issue early in these matches. "Sometimes you go in maybe sort of calculating, because it is three out of five, which youre a little bit unused to because [most tournaments are best of three]. I think thats really the only thing. And, also, at the beginning of matches you sort of try to find your way into it. You cant go out trying to hit close to the line, because thats never going to really work. Maybe once in a while it will, but you sort of have to find your way in. I just wasnt gradually picking it up the way I needed to during the first." In general, though, Raonic is happy with how his tournament is progressing. He beat Australian wildcard Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the first round on Sunday. "I feel like Im playing better and I think I dealt a little bit better with it when I got things figured out as far as intensity. I held it on a little bit better where I struggled a little bit with my match three days ago." Kevin De Bruyne Jersey . Blatter, a 75-year-old Swiss executive who has been in office since 1998, was handed a final four-year term as head of footballs governing body in a vote at FIFAs congress. He won 186 votes out of 203 ballots. Claudio Bravo Jersey . Thats 14 consecutive losses to the two-time defending champs, and most of them were over before they even began. Result notwithstanding, Sundays game had a very different feel to it. http://www.tmancitysoccershop.com/c-20-d...-fc-jersey.aspx. General manager David Poile called signing Ribeiro a great opportunity to add a talented, experienced and creative centre Tuesday when he introduced the veteran at a news conference. Ribeiros contract is worth $1.05 million after being bought out of the final three years of a $22 million contract by the Coyotes recently. Fernandinho Jersey . -- Jerome Williams glanced at Philadelphias schedule and realized he would be facing the Oakland Athletics yet again, with another new team. Oleksandr Zinchenko Jersey . The 18-year-old Januzaj has made his breakthrough at United this season, including scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Sunderland before the recent international break. His performances have sparked a debate about where his international future lies.TAMPA, Fla. -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are tightening the race for second place in the Atlantic Division. Jonathan Bernier made 33 saves and the Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Thursday night. The second-place Lightning have a one-point lead over Toronto and Montreal, which beat Vancouver 5-2. "The last week and a half (has been tough)," said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, whose team has lost four of five. "I dont mind where we are in the standings as of today. We kind of built a bulge in the standings, point-wise, and now weve lost some of it. But in saying that, I rather be where we are right now than where some other teams are." Mason Raymond, Jay McClement, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak scored for Toronto, which was coming of a 4-1 loss Tuesday night at Florida. "We needed a response from our effort the other night, and we got it tonight," Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "If you dont have goaltending, you dont have a starting point in the NHL. Were not any different than any other hockey club. The goaltender is your last line of defence, and our guys have given us a chance for a better part of this year." The Maple Leafs are 10-2-1 over their last 13 games. "We want to finish strong before the (Olympic) break with as many points as possible," Bernier said. Bernier had a number of strong saves early when Tampa Bay dominated the first half of the first period, and he made a glove save on J.T. Brown during the second. "It didnt look like we had it early, and once again Bernie was ready to play and kept us in it," McClement said. "Then we were able to get our legs." Ondrej Palat had the lone goal for Tampa Bay. Lightning goalie Ben Bishoop left after two periods with an upper-body injury and was replaced by Cedrick Desjardins, and centre Valtteri Filppula also left due to a lower-body injury.dddddddddddd Desjardins is filling in for backup Anders Lindback, who is sidelined by a lower-body injury. Both Bishop and Filppula will be evaluated Friday. McClement made it 2-0 on an in-close backhander that eluded Desjardins at 2:19 of the third. After Desjardins make a glove save a couple of minutes later on Troy Bodies breakaway shot, the Maple Leafs turned an errant pass by the Lightning into a 3-0 advantage on van Riemsdyks point-blank goal at 8:10. Bozak added an empty-net goal with 2:52 to play. Palat ended Berniers shutout bid and cut Tampa Bays deficit to 3-1 at 10:28 of the third. There was a scrum between the teams with 1:42 remaining after a Toronto defender made contact with Brown, who ended up colliding with Bernier. Five players received penalties on the play. Raymond opened the scoring 7:57 into the second when he skated in alone from the left wing boards and lifted a backhander over Bishop. Bishop kept the Lightning within a goal when he stopped a shot during a breakaway by Bozak with 4 minutes left in the second. The Maple Leafs, despite allowing eight of the first nine shots, outshot Tampa Bay 12-9 during a scoreless first period. NOTES: Tampa Bay RW Martin St. Louis will replace injured Lightning C Steven Stamkos on Canadas Olympic hockey team. Doctors ruled out Stamkos because he hasnt recovered sufficiently from a broken right leg. ... St. Louis has gone eight games without a goal since he tied a team record with four goals against St. Jose on Jan. 18. He had an assist Thursday. ... Toronto C Nazem Kadri had his six-game points streak end. Cheap Bills JerseysAuthentic Dolphins JerseysCheap Patriots StoreCyber Monday Jets JerseysCyber Monday Texans JerseysBlack Friday Colts JerseysCheap Jaguars JerseysCheap Titans StoreBlack Friday Broncos JerseysCheap Chiefs JerseysCheap Raiders JerseysAuthentic Chargers JerseysCheap Ravens StoreBlack Friday Steelers JerseysBlack Friday Cowboys JerseysCheap Giants StoreCheap Eagles StoreBlack Friday Redskins JerseysFalcons Jerseys OnlinePanthers Jerseys OnlineAuthentic Saints JerseysCheap Buccaneers JerseysAuthentic Cardinals JerseysBlack Friday 49ers JerseysBlack Friday Seahawks JerseysCyber Monday Rams JerseysBlack Friday Bears JerseysWholesale Lions JerseysPackers Jerseys OnlineAuthentic Vikings JerseysCyber Monday Bengals JerseysCyber Monday Browns Jerseys ' ' '