SINGAPORE - After Serena Williams embarrassing defeat to Simona Halep in the WTA Finals group stage, the American narrowed her eyes at the post-match news conference and said she was looking forward to having a chance to avenge the loss. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic .She didnt have to wait long. The pair will face off again on Sunday in the final of the season-ending championships after winning their semifinals on Saturday in contrasting fashion.Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki in a thrilling contest 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) to remain on course for a third-straight title, while Halep swept aside Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2 to put herself in a position for the biggest title of her career.Halep beat Williams 6-0, 6-2 in the group stage, inflicting the Americans heaviest loss in 16 years, and the 18-time Grand Slam winner joked about her diminished expectations for the re-match.My goal is to win three games, Williams said. Im going to go from there. Hopefully I can hold serve — that would be good. Most of all, I hope to break once.Halep has been the form player of the tournament, dropping only 27 games across four matches against top-eight-ranked opponents, and the Romanian was justifiably confident entering Sundays final.I have to believe in my chances against her, the French Open finalist said. I can think that I have the game to beat her.I will be nervous because its the final, but I cant wait for tomorrow because my dream came true, so I have to do everything I can to win.The irony of Sundays final is that Williams only qualified for the semis because Halep lost in three sets rather than two in her final group match against Ana Ivanovic. Had the already-qualified Halep eased off and lost in straight sets, Williams would have been packing her bags.The Americans hopes of reaching the final looked just as tenuous throughout Saturdays clash with Wozniacki.The Danish player served for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but Williams broke back and prevailed in the tiebreaker on her third match point after trailing 4-1.It was a bittersweet win for Williams, who has developed a close off-court friendship with Wozniacki. The pair attended a Mariah Carey concert together on the eve of their semifinal.It was the first match I didnt feel great — if you take (sister) Venus out of the equation — where I wasnt happy after I won, Williams said.I really wanted to cry because Caro is so nice. We get along and we do so much together. Shes like my little baby sister, from a different mother, and father, and different country.Wozniacki reciprocated the affection, but being on the wrong end of a 10-1 head-to-head record meant she understandably wanted to see less of the world No. 1.I told Serena Can you just leave me alone? I love you, but stay away from the other side of the court. Quite frankly Im sick of losing to you, Wozniacki said.Twice before this year Williams had to come back from a set down to beat the Dane and she again made a slow start, taking only three points off Wozniackis serve in the opening set and the frustration showed. After the seventh game, she repeatedly smashed her racket into the court, bringing a warning from the chair umpire.I dont know how many times I hit it but, boy, that racket will never do me wrong again I tell you, Williams said. It was definitely legendary. I kind of lost my cool a little bit.Wozniacki, who had a perfect 3-0 record in the group stage, took the opening set in 26 minutes and held serve to open the second.I really thought she was going to win because she was playing so well, Williams said. She had a whole new strategy. I finally was able to kind of figure it out in the second and then I just was able to play better.It clicked today. I thought Ha! I got you now.The momentum had shifted and, three games later, Williams created her first break points of the match, converting to take a grip on the set, which ended on Wozniackis double fault.The third set went on serve until the ninth game when Wozniacki made the first break. She served for the match but was only able to save one of two set points.Williams survived a break point on her serve to go up 6-5. Wozniacki then held serve under intense pressure in the 12th game, saving one match point in a dramatic rally.She started the tiebreaker confidently, but the relentless Williams wore her down with powerful serves and groundstrokes.Being so close and still losing, it really (stinks), Wozniacki said. It was just small things, but that is why champions are champions. All of them step up when it matters. Fake Soccer Jerseys . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? The Capitals were 5-4 winners in a shootout Oct. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Playing in his 19th career final, the second-seeded Tsonga was favourite to win the Open 13 for the third time and to secure an 11th career title, but he struggled with Gulbis attacking approach. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ .J. -- Kevin Gilbride retired Thursday as offensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. CEDAR PARK, Texas -- With a two-goal lead early in the second period, Toronto Marlies coach Steve Spott knew the Texas Stars would make a surge in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately for Toronto, that surge was too much to handle as the Stars scored six straight goals and ended the Marlies season with a 6-2 victory on Tuesday. Toronto had built a 2-0 lead on goals by Frazer McLaren and Peter Holland, but Texas charged back with a wild rally late in the second period to spark its trip to the Calder Cup final. "Two mistakes, first we made a bad line change then we took a bad penalty 200-feet from Drew (MacIntyre), and all of sudden its 2-2," Spott said. "Theyre a good team, give them credit, but we made some bad mistakes." After killing off a hooking penalty by Patrik Nemeth, Texas scored on its 26th shot of the game when Mike Hedden tipped home a pass from Ritchie with 2:38 left in the period. Less than a minute later Texas tied the game when Jeffrey scored on the power play. It gave Texas goals on back-to-back shots after Drew MacIntyre had stopped the first 25. Tied 2-2 after the second period, Brett Ritchie and Matej Stransky scored 17 seconds apart to give the Stars a 4-2 lead. Justin Dowling gave the Stars another insurance goal with 5:28 remaining, while Dustin Jeffrey scored his second goal of the night into an empty net. It was Dowlings first game of the series after suffering an arm injury against the Grand Rapids Griffins in Game 5 of the second round. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China. . Reunited on a line with Hedden and Ritchie, he was on the ice for four of the Stars goals. "I wasnt expecting to play tonight," Dowling said. "Things kind of just unfolded how they did. I benefited a lot from going to Dallas and getting their treatment from their guys up there a Im very grateful to be back." MacIntyre stopped 44-of-49 shots for Toronto and was under siege for most of the night. Cristopher Nilstorp stopped 24-of-26 shots for Texas. His biggest stop came midway through the second period when he stopped Brandon Kozun with the left pad, turning away a flurry by the Marlies and allowed Texas to tie the game later in the frame. "Oh, that was a big save," Stars coach Willie Desjardins. "I thought that was going (in). He made some real good saves a Nilstorp was real solid throughout the series and there were a couple games where he stopped it from getting away on us." Before jostling with the Stars for seven games, the Marlies had rolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs. After the loss on Tuesday, Spott took a moment to look at the future for his young team. "Next year our plan is to take this another step farther," Spott said. "The frustrating thing is we were in a good spot here tonight up 2-0. We just had a couple mental mistakes that cost us." Texas will play the St. Johns IceCaps in the Calder Cup final. Game 1 will be Sunday night in Texas. ' ' '
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