Dein erstes Forum » e Carolina Hurricanes have placed bac

LONDON -- On the several occasions the question surfaced earlier this fortnight, Serena Williams batted it out of the air like one of her 120 mph aces.What would it mean to collect a 22nd Grand Slam singles title and reach the Open era record of Steffi Graf?Williams, who has been hearing variations on this reoccurring theme for a full year now, has developed an impenetrable defense: essentially, no comment.I dont know, she said Thursday after reaching her ninth singles final here at the All England Club. My goal has never been 22. I dont talk about that anymore.After Saturdays emphatic 7-5, 6-3 victory over Angelique Kerber, let the conversation begin. Its Serena and Steffi, long since retired, in a dead heat. Only Margaret Courts all-time record of 24 is beyond them.With an easy forehand into an open court to win the match, Williams fell dramatically, almost cartoonishly, backward to the grass. When she popped up, she flashed the victory sign -- two fingers on each hand -- and positively beamed.And there, intrepid reporters, was your answer regarding the elusive 22.I have definitely had some sleepless nights, if Im just honest with a lot of stuff, Serena said. Coming so close. Feeling it, not being able to quite get there.But, you know, it makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it. ...Its obviously a great relief.She was already the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era, which came a year ago at Wimbledon. Now, Williams, nearly 35, adds a year to that. This is her ninth major title after turning 30 -- far and away best total ever. Court and Martina Navratilova had three each.It is worth noting that Serena has now reached the final at seven of the past eight Grand Slams. For the record, No. 1 Novak Djokovic is six for his past seven.It was a composed, controlled performance by Williams in front of some of her favorite people, including sister Venus, Beyonce, Jay Z and Ellen DeGeneres.After winning four consecutive majors to reach 21, Serena found herself in a holding pattern. She lost in the semifinals of last years US Open (surprisingly, to Roberta Vinci), then to Kerber, the 28-year-old German, in the Australian Open final and Garbine Muguruza in the recent French Open final.Now, 5? months since losing to Kerber Down Under, she is over that formidable hump.Well, this tournament I came in with just a different mind frame and mindset, Williams said. I knew in Melbourne I thought I played well, but honestly Angelique played great, she played better. She just played really good tennis.So I knew that going into this one, I just needed to keep calm, be confident, just play the tennis that Ive been playing for well over a decade.Serena thus defended her title here and became a seven-time Wimbledon champion, tying Graf and Dorothea Lambert Chambers for third on the all-time list behind Navratilova (nine) and Helen Wills Moody (eight). This one came, incredibly, 14 years after the first, in 2002, as a 20-year-old.?Williams up-to-the-minute list of major trophies: six at the Australian Open, three at the French Open, seven at Wimbledon and six at the US Open.The last time two women met in two Grand Slam finals in the same year? A decade ago, when Amelie Mauresmo beat Justine Henin in Melbourne and Wimbledon. Kerber was hoping to do the same to Serena.Kerber, a better mover, consciously tried to push Serena around and attack her backhand. Aces aside, a formidable breeze favored Kerbers ability to adjust on the fly.The two punched and counterpunched their way to the brink of a first-set tiebreaker, but two loose errors from Kerber gave Williams two set points. A majestic backhand, deep and in the corner, was too good for Kerber to return. That unleashed a screaming Serena, who suddenly seemed to want this very much.With Williams serving the seventh game of the second, a break point -- the first of the match -- suddenly appeared. Serenas response was a 117 mph ace, followed by a 124 mph ace -- a quick end to any thoughts of giving in to Kerber.Serena finished in a blur, winning the last eight points.?I think I played what I could today, Kerber said in her postmatch interview. I can just say, I mean, Serena was serving unbelievable today. At the end I was trying everything, but she deserved it today.Yeah, I mean, I think I was not the one who [lost] the match. I think she won the match.Maybe this is the rivalry womens tennis has been aching for? Williams will be No. 1 exiting this tournament (for the 177th consecutive week), and Kerber will be No. 2.And now those snarky scribes have a whole new line of questioning to investigate: How long before Serena Williams passes Courts all-time record of 24 majors? It could happen as soon as next years Wimbledon -- or perhaps sooner.The Rev. Margaret Court, watching from the Royal Box, was more than a casual bystander.Going forward, there will be much discussion about Serena equaling Courts 24 majors.?No, not for me. Ive learned a lot about 22, Serena said. I learned not to get involved in those debates and conversations. I just learned to just play tennis. Thats what I do best. Clearance Air Vapormax .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Vapormax Online . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. https://www.cheapvapormaxoutlet.com/ . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Cheap Vapormax .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Vapormax 2021 . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals have purchased the contracts of outfielder Magneuris Sierra, infielders Eliezer Alvarez and Edmundo Sosa and right-hander Rowan Wick and added them to their 40-man roster.Adding them to the roster protects them from the Rule 5 draft.St. Louis also announced left-hander Tim Cooney was claimed off waivers by the Indians, while outfielders Chad Huffman and Todd Cunningham, infielder Wilfredo Tovar, left-handerr Zach Phillips and right-hander Kendry Flores signed minor league contracts that included invites to spring training.ddddddddddddSierra, Sosa and Alvarez were teammates at Class A Peoria this past season, while Wick went 2-0 with a 2.44 ERA in 44 games between Class A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield. ' ' '