MADRID, Spain -- Second-ranked Li Na started her Madrid Open campaign by overcoming a stubborn opponent just as third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska did to
reach the second round on Monday.
Nickell Robey Bills Jersey . Lis clay debut began with an encouraging 6-1, 7-6 (7) victory over Belgiums Kirsten Flipkens
before Radwanska also advanced thanks to a 7-6 (3), 6-2 win over Canadas Eugenie
Bouchard. Li, the Australian Open champion, survived two set points by Flipkens,
and eventually took the tiebreaker to avoid another surprise first-round exit
like last year. Li goes up against fellow Chinese player Zheng Jie next.
Bouchard came out on the losing end of a tough match against third-ranked
Radwanska, as the Polish player earned her 25th match win of the season. "The
tiebreak was the biggest key," said Radwanska, who goes on to play Svetlana
Kuznetsova. "I did a couple of good shots in the tiebreak and managed to win
that, and that gave me more confidence in the second set." Kuznetsova held off
Alize Cornet of France 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 as the Russian continued her good run,
including reaching the final in Portugal on Saturday. Also, Caroline Wozniacki
was a 6-2, 6-2 victor over Ekaterina Makarova while Spanish player Carla Suarez
Navarro followed up from winning her first career title in Portugal with a 7-6
(6), 6-4 win over Yvonne Meusburger of Austria. Ninth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova
of Slovakia was bounced 6-4, 6-0 by Samantha Stosur of Australia. A minutes
silence was scheduled to be held at the Magic Boxs Manolo Santana centre court
before the evening match in remembrance of Elena Baltacha, a former top-50
British womens player who died of liver cancer on Sunday. In mens first-round
play, ninth-seeded John Isner beat Russian qualifier Teymuraz Gabashvili 7-6
(8), 6-4, with the American securing the only break in a match heavy on baseline
groundstrokes. Kei Nishikori followed up his Barcelona Open triumph with a 6-4,
6-4 win against Ivan Dodig of Croatia. Nishikori said working with former French
Open champion Michael Chang boosted his confidence on this surface as he won his
first career clay title in Barcelona. "I did well last week in Barcelona and Im
getting better on clay, so hopefully I can go further this week," the
12th-ranked Japanese player said. "There was just one bad game, on my serve at
3-2 in the second set. Otherwise, it was an almost perfect match." Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, while Gilles Simon emerged
from another all-French matchup, after Benoit Paire retired, to play Roger
Federer next. Stanislas Wawrinka, who is looking to follow-up his Monte Carlos
Masters triumph, opens in the Spanish capital against Dominic Thiem after the
Austrian beat Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-4, 6-2. Other winners were Mikhail
Youzhny of Russia, Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, and Spanish players Fernando
Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.
Robert Woods Bills Jersey . Schaub will start for an injured Case Keenum and try to help the Texans end a 12-game skid.
Schaubs last action in Houston came when he took over late in a game against
Oakland on Nov. 17 as Keenum was struggling.
Eric Wood Bills Jersey . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced
last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for
756 yards and a career-low 3.VANCOUVER -- Striker Kenny Miller wants to make the
most of his seemingly limited time left with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Miller, a
former Scottish international slated to become a free agent under a quirky
contract that expires at mid-season, hopes to start Saturday in the second of
back-to-back games with the Los Angeles Galaxy at B.C. Place Stadium. He was
deployed as a second-half substitute in the opening encounter last weekend in
Carson, Calif. You can watch all the action on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt.
"Obviously, its disappointing for any professional to sit and watch," said
Miller. "You want to go on that field and you want to be helping the team out
and you want to be in a position where you can influence the game. "If you sit
and watch, its really frustrating, because you cant do that." The Whitecaps
(2-2-2) lost 1-0 to the Galaxy (2-1-1) last weekend. Not only does Vancouver
want to avenge that loss but also earn its first victory in three games. Millers
presence in the starting lineup could come in handy because he leads the team in
scoring with three goals and one assist in six appearances. Coach Carl Robinson
used Miller as a substitute last weekend to rest and refresh the 34-year-old
Edinburgh native. Miller, who came on in the 70th minute, didnt take kindly to
the move. "I want to play every minute of every game," said Miller. "I dont want
to come off. I dont want to sit on the bench. "I want to play every game. Hes
paid to make the decisions and thats the decision he made, so youve got to
accept it." Miller had off-season knee surgery, and Robinson, who is in his
first season as Vancouvers head coach after two as an assistant, made it known
early in the season hed rest older veterans, especially in road games. Captain
Jay DeMerit stayed home for a road game against New England. But Miller doesnt
see a need to rest for health reasons, contending hes "probably the fittest" he
has felt since joining the Whitecaps midway through the 2012 season. If Miller
does start, as expected, hell probably line up in a two-striker formation with
Darren Mattocks rather than a lone-striker setup the club has used in the past.
Robinson believes Miller and Mattocks play better inside rather than with one
out on the wing. The Whitecaps have only one win -- a 3-1 home decision last
season - in nine MLS meetings with the Galaxy. Robinson liked how his team
played defensively last weekend, but wants it to produce more scoring chances
against an L.A. team he feels has "an aura" because it has won two of the past
three MLS championships. If Miller does get more playing time, it could
eventually help his chances of re-signing with Vancouver. Robinson, a former
teammate of Miller with Wolverhampton in England, is looking for Miller to make
an impact before the club offers him a contract extension. Vancouver signed
Miiller to a rare six-month extension last October.
Jim Kelly Bills Jersey. In accordance with FIFA rules, he is now eligible to negotiate with other teams and has instructed
his agents to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Despite persistent reports last
year the striker wanted to rejoin his former Glasgow Rangers squad, Miller has
insisted he wants to remain a Whitecap. But he and the club havent started
formal contract talks. "Theres nothing, theres no update," he said. "On June 30,
the contract runs out. Until then, if they dont see it differently, thats when
its done. "Six months ago, they knew what the situation was going to be and we
just get on with that. The club, of they want to talk, then Ill talk. If they
dont, then we dont." In the meantime, Miller plays on -- at Robinsons
discretion, with the Vancouver coach not offering any confirmation if Miller
would start against L.A. Robinson said Millers playing time will depend on
factors heading into each game between now and June 30. His minutes wont be cut
to give young players more action in preparation for his departure. "A decision
wont be based upon any contractual status," said Robinson. "Itll be based on who
I think will win us that game, and then (June 30), well see where we go."
Robinson admitted he was "sitting on the fence" on Millers status, adding he has
already devised a plan with coaches and management based on this year and next.
Dealing with Millers contract deadline will mark the first step in the plan. But
Miller isnt the only veteran looking to reclaim his starting position.
Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is anxious to play after sitting out the past three
games. He missed the first two contests due to a concussion suffered in a freak
off-field collision with a bicycle rack but was a healthy scratch last weekend
in L.A. Robinson said Reo-Coker has trained the right way this week, but the
English midfielder contended he needs game action to stay at his sharpest. "The
best form of fitness is games," said Reo-Coker. But working against Reo-Coker is
defensive midfielder Matias Labas return following a one-game suspension for
receiving a red card against Colorado on April 5. Robinson was also pleased with
the performance of central midfielders Gershon Koffie and Russell Teibert and
suggested theyll be called on again. Teibert, a Niagara Falls, Ont., native,
drew Robinsons praise for his aggressive marking of famed Galaxy striker Robbie
Keane, who leads L.A. with three goals and an assist this season. Robinson noted
Teibert "got under (Keanes) skin." The Vancouver coach and Keane have also been
known to exchange unpleasantries on the field --but not for long. Theyve been
close since they were teenage teammates with Wolverhampton in the mid-1990s. "We
do go way back," said Robinson. "But for 90 minutes, hes not my friend."
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