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NEW YORK -- Angelique Kerber earned the No. 1 ranking before she stepped on court, then she went out and looked like a top-ranked player.Kerber has reached her third major final of the year after dispatching Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets at the US Open. The German won the first four games en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory that set up a rematch with Karolina Pliskova, who denied Kerber the No. 1 ranking a few weeks ago at the Cincinnati Open final.At the start of 2016, Kerber had never made a Grand Slam final. She could end the year as a two-time major champ.In January, she advanced to the Australian Open title match and beat Serena Williams. Kerber also played for the championship at Wimbledon; however, she lost to Williams.At 28, Kerber is the oldest woman to reach No. 1 for the first time, and shes the first German to do so since her idol and mentor, Steffi Graf.Kerber would have overtaken Williams for the top spot had she defeated Pliskova in the Cincinnati Open final Aug. 21. Instead, Pliskova won that day for a breakthrough title and has been riding the momentum ever since.After that, I was just telling myself, OK, I will get one more chance, Kerber said. Now after I can relax a little bit and try to enjoy this special night today.Pliskova upset a hobbled Williams in the first semifinal Thursday, which clinched No. 1 for Kerber, who was doing all she could not to think about ascending to the top of the rankings as she prepared to take the court.Im growing and Im not putting the pressure on my shoulders if something like this happens, she said.On match point, Kerber hit a backhand that appeared to be heading long, and Wozniacki was going to let it go until she realized the ball might have clipped the baseline. She swung too late and sent the ball sailing out to end the match instead of challenging the call.I got a few texts, but that just made me feel worse, Wozniacki said. But at the end of the day, I dont think [challenging] it would have made a difference.Not with the way Kerber was relentlessly hammering her shots. Wozniacki even mixed in a few moon balls but to no avail. Usually content to play defense, Wozniacki found herself trying to force the issue and made an uncharacteristic 26 unforced errors.A two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows, she arrived at this years tournament ranked No. 74 in the world after missing 2 1/2 months because of an ankle injury. She was seeking to become the lowest-ranked womens finalist at the US Open, other than an unranked Kim Clijsters in 2009.Probably people ruled me out, but its nice to prove people wrong once again, Wozniacki said.How much longer might she keep trying to prove people wrong? Just as she had after her quarterfinal victory, Wozniacki declined to address a question about reports that her father told media she could retire in the next year or two.Stitched Blue Jays Jerseys . 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Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4.BEREA, Ohio -- The photo of Martin Luther King Jr. put things in perspective for Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.Change can happen.Hawkins and four other NFL players to meet with Congressional leaders in Washington to discuss ways of bridging the divide between police and minority communities. During the visit Tuesday, Hawkins, a longtime activist, was struck by an iconic image of King, the revered civil rights leader, hanging on a wall inside the Eisenhower Executive Building next to the White House.And it was the meeting that kind of prompted blacks being able to vote, which was a big deal, Hawkins said Wednesday. So to see that and just walking in those historic hallways and realizing all the history youve learned about, and youre literally in the same space as them, its a surreal moment.Hawkins was part of a delegation of players headed by Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin. They visited Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers about what can be done to improve relations between law enforcement and African-Americans. The problem has plagued the nation for decades, inflamed by shootings in recent months that triggered protests and violence.The group also included Browns quarterback Josh McCown, Lions safety Glover Quin and Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, all selected by Boldin, who has been personally touched by the tragic death of a cousin killed by an off-duty police officer in Florida.During their one-day visit, the players met with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and members of the congressional black caucus.The players and politicians shared stories and ideas in hopes of working toward a solution.These issues are tough, McCown said. Its easy when things happen for everybody to run to one side or the other. We just feel if we can stand in the middle and help move things along, help bridge gaps as best we can, thats us doing our part.Boldin, the NFLs Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2015 for his community service, organized the trip to raise awareness, stimulate communication and promote healing. It was planned long before the recent presidential election, but with racial tensions running high in its aftermath, Boldin believes the timing could be vital for positive change.Wherever you go, people are talking about it (racial issues), Boldin said. Now its time for action. What do we do next? Whats the next step? And that was my reason for going to Capitol Hill and to the White Houuse.dddddddddddd How can I help? If I can help, if I can lend my voice, if I can lend my platform, how can I help?We had a great dialogue. Im feeling optimistic, but its definitely just the first step for me. This is not something that, oh, we went to Washington and took photos.McCown was the only white player to participate. The 37-year-old was teammates with Boldin in Arizona and the two are close friends. McCown has worked with Boldin on other projects and said when he was asked to be a part of his effort, it was a no-brainer for me.Both McCown and Hawkins stressed communication and compassion as being at the crux of making things better.Theres hurt, and then theres fear that follows, and anger, and people run to sides, McCown said. And you just want to understand everything as best as you can and then step in; and you want to be able to stand with both sides and say we want to understand and realize that these are tough times, but that were here for you. We want to empathize with those that are hurting, that are losing loved ones, but at the same time support law enforcement and their efforts to help better their relationships with communities.Hawkins, who felt headway was made during the meetings, has used his voice as a professional athlete to fight injustice before.Before a game in 2014, he wore a black T-shirt onto the field over his No. 16 Browns jersey to protest the killing of Tamir Rice. The 12-year-old boy was shot by Cleveland police who believed the toy gun he was carrying was real. There also was the fatal shooting of John Crawford, a 22-year-old killed while holding a toy BB gun rifle inside a department store.Hawkins credits that passion to his grandfather, Burrell Haselrig Sr., who spoke at two Republican National Conventions and inspired him.To leave things better for your children than what you have, and thats the responsibility I have as a father, he said. I feel like a lot of that was instilled in me, to be able to grow up seeing that let me know that it doesnt matter where Im from or how minuscule people think I am to the equation, that I have the power to make a difference even a little bit or encourage somebody else who might have more of a power to make a difference.---AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Allen Park, Michigan, contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '