to move up and down
It took five thrilling sets for Rafael Nadal to defeat Novak Djokovic at the French Open on Friday — and that was just the semi-final. Nadal will defend his title at Roland Garros after beating the 26-year-old from Serbia 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 9-7.
Nadal is on the verge of becoming the first man to win eight titles at the same Grand Slam event.
“I really am playing better here,” he said on Thursday. “I said I needed to make a change. I was confident that I can do it, and I did.” (Photo: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
Taylor Crosby says she didn’t choose goaltending to avoid comparisons with her famous brother Sidney.
The younger sister of the NHL superstar thinks she’ll still be compared to him in terms of how far she goes in her hockey career. She’s OK with that.
“Even now, there is a comparison I think from the media or other people, but I don’t put it on myself,” Taylor said Thursday night in Calgary. “I think a lot of people will expect you to be a certain way or to be a certain type of player and be really good.
“I know I’m my own person. I try to use him as a role model and [follow] his work ethic, but I don’t compare myself to him. I’m never going to be him and he’s never going to be me.” (Photos: Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Gregory Campbell broke his leg during a penalty kill, but stayed on the ice: While Patrice Bergeron won the game in double overtime on Wednesday night, the Bruins were focused on a different playoff hero after their pivotal victory over the Penguins.
Campbell blocked a shot by Evgeni Malkin with his midsection on a power play late in the second period. He remained on the ice for a few seconds before struggling to his feet, then limped around for more than 30 seconds. Now it turns out he broke his right fibula on the play, the Bruins confirmed on Thursday morning, but stayed on the ice so Boston could clear the zone.
Poor Lindsey Vonn: The Council of Fashion Designers of America awards must have whizzed by for the Olympic champion skier, considering testers from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency escorted her to the women’s bathroom for an impromptu sample. Probably not very fun while wearing a custom gown.
“We appreciate her professionalism and for accommodating this process, which at times can be inconvenient,” USADA spokeswoman Annie Skinner said. (Photo: Brad Barket/Invision/Associated Press)
Kid Rock. Tiger Woods. Playing. Golf. What. (Photo via Kid Rock/Facebook)
The Miami Heat were so hot last night, Justin Bieber’s sunglasses ended up being SEARED ONTO HIS FACE. Because that’s the only reason why he would be wearing sunglasses inside, OBVIOUSLY. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Joe O’Connor: Sydney Leroux chose America, and struck at the heart of Canadian insecurity
Gerry Dobson is the dean of Canadian soccer broadcasting, a real pro, as is his partner in the broadcast booth, Craig Forrest who, once upon a time, was an actual soccer pro, toiling away in England.
This impeccably knowledgeable pair was calling a game on Sunday afternoon at BMO Field in Toronto, a so-called “friendly” match between the fiercest of international women’s soccer rivals, Canada and the United States. A record crowd was on hand. And all was going abysmally for the home team as the clocked ticked down.
The Americans led 2-0 when Sydney Leroux — the Surrey, B.C.-born and mostly Canadian-raised Sydney Leroux who had played for Canada as a junior — flashed past the Canadian defence. She deked the goalie. She booted home goal number three for her adopted homeland. (Ms. Leroux, a dual citizen, has an American father.)
It was a bitter slap, one made even worse after Ms. Leroux brandished the U.S. crest on her jersey, like a police badge, at the Canadian fans — before putting her fingers to her lips and shushing them. (Photo: Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
It’s Rafael Nadal’s birthday today, so he received this fancy birthday cake at the French Open on Monday. Don’t eat it all yourself, Rafa. (Photo: MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)
Neymar is already a hit in Barcelona: The Brazilian star arrived in Barcelona on Monday to complete his deal with the Catalan club, which will see him form a formidable attacking partnership with Lionel Messi.
Neymar travelled straight to Spain from Brazil’s friendly with England in Rio de Janeiro and is set to sign a five-year contract on Monday after choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid, bringing an end to an intense bidding war between the fierce rivals.
Neymar’s flight from Brazil arrived an hour behind schedule at around 1 p.m. local time. Decked out in solid black with sunglasses and a baseball cap, he headed straight to Camp Nou where he took his first photograph in front of the blue and burgundy club insignia with over a hundred fans waiting for him, some wearing his shirt and waving Brazilian flags. (Photo: Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images)
Tommy Robredo of Spain is specializing in comebacks: He is the first man in 86 years to win three Grand Slam matches in a row after dropping the first two sets (France’s Henri Cochet pulled that off at Wimbledon in 1927).
Robredo did it in the second round of the French Open Wednesday. He did it in the third round Friday. And then he did it in the fourth round Sunday, defeating No. 11 Nicolas Almagro 6-7 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Robredo trailed 4-1 in the third set, 4-2 in the fourth and 2-0 in the fifth.
“Nobody dreams of doing such things,” said Robredo, who dropped to his knees, leaned forward and wept after winning. (Photos: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, Michel Spingler/The Associated Press)
