CAOS - DELTA
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18.01.2020 12:44
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WIMBLEDON -- The tides of history are as treacherous as they are powerful. When they are in flood, they can sweep a man like Novak Djokovic to astonishing heights. In ebb, they can suck him into unforeseen, inescapable eddies.On Saturday at Wimbledon, top-seeded Djokovic was caught in the ebb. It carried him to a most unlikely agent of disaster, a laid-back 28-year old Californian who had lost eight of his previous nine matches to Djokovic. The vicious surge ultimately carried away Djokovics Wimbledon title, his attempt to tie Rod Lavers consecutive Grand Slam win streak at 31 and his drive to try for a calendar year Grand Slam at the US Open.Djokovc was sucked under and drowned in a sea of Sam Querrey aces and forehand blasts in a match played out over two days under angry skies and sun, through spitting rain and seemingly interminable rain delays. It took just 2 hours and 57 minutes, but it felt like a month. Querrey won it, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5).In sports, everything is possible, Djokovic said shortly afterward. If youre playing somebody of as a high quality as Sam Querrey is on this surface, with a big serve, anything can happen. I was a few points away from losing last year against Kevin Anderson in a very similar match on the same court. Sometimes [a history of success] works in your favor, sometimes against. You got to deal with that.True, Querrey spat out aces like an ATM discharging $10 bills. He cracked 31 in the match, 15 in the critical fourth set, many of them when he was break-point down. (Djokovic converted just one of 12 break points in the decisive set, mainly to Querreys superb serve.)This was an unexpected show of resolve from a player who inspired so little confidence on the morning of the match that bookmakers installed Djokovic as a 3-1 favorite despite the fact that Querrey had won the first two sets late in the day Friday before rain canceled play.At the time, the postponement seemed like a reprieve for Djokovic. No one has accomplished more over the past two years since Roger Federer held his opponents gape-jawed awe in the sweet spot of his career. Federer, though, had his flaws. Once Rafael Nadal matured, he hacked all of Federers passwords.And Federers defense was never the equal of his offense. As Djokovic piled title upon title, increasingly irrespective of surface, his comprehensive skill set became mind-blowing. He had everything.Many expected that a little routine, overnight maintenance was all Djokovic needed to add another chapter to his legend. Djokovic was in nearly identical straits last year against No. 14 Anderson in the fourth round. He survived and went on to win the title.But Querrey is an underachieving No. 41. On a good day, he can match Anderson serve for serve, and the Americans groundstrokes are better.He served very well, as he usually does, Djokovic said. I think that part of his game was brutal today. He made a lot of free points with the first serve. As I said, his accuracy [was excellent]. Then, you know, I think he didnt want to stay too long in the rally. [We had] few long rallies. Other than that, he was just going for it. He was aggressive, and it paid off.The big difference between this and the Anderson match, though, were the stakes. And it showed. Djokovic didnt play as well today as he did against Anderson a year ago. He seemed caught up in the same tide as Serena Williams has been since the U.S. Open. Djokovic made more unforced rally errors in that critical final set than any other one (12). In total, made just three more winners (34) than mistakes.I dont want to take anything out of victory from my opponent today, Djokovic said. He played very well, and he deserved to win. I had my chances serving for the [fourth] set [at 5-4]. In the tiebreak, I was leading [3-1]. I Just wasnt feeling the ball as well as I wished. But thats sport.Its sport, and its the tide of history at work, always flowing -- one way or the other. Darron Lee Super Bowl Jersey . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Tony Gonzalez Super Bowl Jersey . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. 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KANSAS CITY (1-0) at HOUSTON (1-0)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBSOPENING LINE -- Texans by 1 1/2RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Kansas City 1-0, Houston 1-0SERIES RECORD -- Chiefs lead 4-3LAST MEETING -- Chiefs beat Texans 30-0, Jan. 9, 2016 in wild-card playoffLAST WEEK -- Chiefs beat Chargers 33-27, OT; Texans beat Bears 23-14.AP PRO32 RANKING -- Chiefs No. 9, Texans No. 11CHIEFS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (6), RUSH (20), PASS (4)CHIEFS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (25), RUSH (30), PASS (15)TEXANS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (17), RUSH (9), PASS (21)TEXANS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (4), RUSH (10), PASS (8)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Kansas City has won three straight against Houston. ... Chiefs have won franchise-record 11 straight regular-season games. ... Chiefs comeback from 21-point deficit against Chargers set franchise record. Their 17-point fourth-quarter comeback was also franchise best. ... Chiefs got TDs from four different players in Week 1. ... QB Alex Smith set career highs for completions (34) and attempts (48) against Chargers. His completions were third most in franchise history. ... Smith completed six passes of 20-plus yards, tied for most in NFL in Week 1. ... Spencer Ware had 129 yards receiving vs. San Diego, fifth most by Chiefs RB. ... Chiefs cut third-round pick DB KeiVarae Russell this week. ... Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt surpassed 40,000 yards punting last week. He traails only Jerrel Wilson (44,218) in franchise history.dddddddddddd ... QB Brock Osweiler threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns in Houston debut. ... RB Lamar Miller ran for 106 yards in first game with Texans. He had 108 yards rushing in only game against Kansas City, for Miami. ... Rookie WR Will Fuller had five receptions for 107 yards and TD last week to become first receiver drafted in first round with at least 100 yards receiving in opener since 1984. ... LB Whitney Mercilus had two sacks last week and had three sacks in January wild-card game. He was voted AFC Defensive Player of Week. ... MLB Brian Cushing is out indefinitely after spraining medial collateral ligament in right knee in opener. ... OLB Jadeveon Clowney had sack last week and has four sacks in his past five games. ... DE J.J. Watt returned after missing all training camp and preseason following back surgery. He had two sacks and nine tackles, including six for losses, in last regular-season meeting with Chiefs. ... Fantasy Tip: Houston WR DeAndre Hopkins could be good pickup after finishing with six catches for 98 yards and two TDs in last regular-season meeting against Chiefs.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' ' |
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