Dein erstes Forum » fourth in both 3-meter synchro and the individual spri

NEW YORK -- The condition of Serena Williams tender right shoulder has been the subject of serious speculation early and often at this 2016 edition of the US Open.In her first-round match, she sacrificed a little serving power for pinpoint placement, raising even more questions.The emphatic answers were provided Thursday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium, when the No. 1 seed faced fellow American Vania King. Three of Serenas first four points came on aces -- at 102 mph, 114 mph and, finally, 115 mph -- all out wide.It was a harbinger of disaster for King, who went fairly quietly, 6-3, 6-3. Serena, however, did not seem happy with the level of her play.Well, every match, at least for me, I like to do the best I can, she said in her on-court interview. So, hopefully, Ill be able to play better as time goes on.Some takeaways from the match that vaulted Serena into a third-round match against Johanna Larsson:No one brings the star power like Serena: Unlike, say, actress Bridget Moynahan and chef Marcus Samuelson, Beyonce and husband Jay Z werent in the prematch celebrity list for the evening session. But the powerfully musical couple, who spend a fair amount of time in New York, were sitting right there in the back of Serenas box. Serena appeared in Beyonces Lemonade video, and apparently, this was payback. Serenas 22 Grand Slam singles titles are one more than Jay Zs 21 top-10 songs. Beyonce trails the field with only 16.Its a bad matchup for King: They had only met once previously, right here at the US Open two years ago. With a huge advantage in the category of firepower, Serena dropped only a single game that time -- winning in 56 minutes. This time, the No. 87-ranked player lasted nine more minutes. Serena hit 13 aces, and one serve was clocked at 121 mph on Thursday. She hit 38 winners (on a total of 65 points). King, in her 37th Grand Slam appearance, had only four winners. She has yet to advance beyond the third round.Serena looks dialed in -- and its early: If youre going to catch her, its advisable to do it sometime in the first week. But what looked like a horrible draw -- the unseeded but dangerous Ekaterina Makarova in the first round -- was a blessing. Serena came out and slammed the Russian 6-3, 6-3 in 63 minutes. More importantly, Serena was thoroughly composed, almost meticulous in her play and comportment. The shoulder? So far, Serena said, so good.The pressure will become greater, later: A year ago, on the cusp of a calendar-year Grand Slam, Serena succumbed to nerves. She said shes more relaxed this year, and its probably true. Still, as she gets closer to the title here, the more history will come into play. A victory, as tennis fans know by now, would give her 23 major singles, one more than the Open era record of 22 that she shares with Steffi Graf. Not as well-known is the fact she can surpass Chris Everts six US Open titles and take the Open era record of seven here for herself.Oh, and did we mention the No. 1 thing? Serena is already the oldest player to ever hold the No. 1 ranking. With a win here, she can hold on to it for a little longer than her current 183 consecutive weeks. If No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber reaches the quarterfinals, a distinct possibility, Williams would need to get to the final to have a chance to retain the top spot. If Kerber and Serena meet in the final, the winner would walk away with No. 1. Wouldnt that be fun? Jeremy Walker Braves Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Bryse Wilson Braves Jersey . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. https://www.cheapbraves.com/1283o-orlando-cepeda-jersey-braves.html . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Joe Torre Braves Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Adam Duvall Braves Jersey . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Wu Minxia ended her record-setting Olympic career the way it began: with a gold medal.Shi Tingmao and Wu totaled 345.60 points to win the womens 3-meter synchronized title Sunday in the first diving event of the Rio de Janeiro Games. They led throughout the five-round competition and won by a whopping 31.77 points on an overcast day at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, where light rain briefly fell.We have a very high standard, Wu said through a translator.Wu claimed her fourth consecutive gold in 3-meter synchro, becoming the first woman to win four golds in the same event at the Olympics. She also won in 2004, 2008 and 2012, and has had three different partners.The 30-year-old Chinese also made history as the first diver to win five career golds, having won the 3-meter individual event four years ago in London. She wont defend that title in Rio.When I first got into diving, I thought it was a very exciting sport, Wu said. My personality, I always want to win.She also owns silver and bronze in individual 3-meter from the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games.Wu is the oldest female diver to win gold in the Olympics, a mark previously held by American Micki King, who won 3-meter springboard at 28 in the 1972 Munich Games.Shi and Wu routinely hit their dives for scores of 9.0 and higher, totaling 81.00 points on their final dive, a backward 2 1/2-somersault pike. They climbed out of the water and embraced, knowing the gold was secure with five other teams still to dive.Italys Tania Cagnotto andd Francesca Dallape took silver at 313.dddddddddddd83. Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith of Australia rallied from last to earn the bronze with 299.19, edging Canada by less than a point.We are used to diving against the Chinese, Cagnotto said. We dont even think about the gold. Gold is for China.Cagnotto finally won her first medal in her fifth Olympics. She just missed in London, finishing fourth in both 3-meter synchro and the individual springboard event. Her father and coach Giorgio Cagnotto owns four Olympic diving medals of his own. Cagnotto and Dallape held onto second through each round.We were still remembering when we lost the medal by less than two points, Cagnotto said. We just hope it would be destiny that today we get this medal.The Aussies were last after two rounds before coming up big on their last dive to hold off the Canadian duo of Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware. Keeney and Smith scored 71.10 points in the final round, while Abel and Ware only managed 67.50.Abel and Ware anxiously waited in the water for their scores. When they saw the numbers, they were crushed. One of them sunk her head underwater.You know when you missed a dive, Abel said. You know when its pretty much going to decide the score. I kind of knew.Wus teammate, Chen Ruolin, could match her with a fifth gold in Rio. Chen is entered in 10-meter synchro, an event she has won at the last two Olympics. ' ' '