Melbourne, Australia (SportsNetwork.
[b]Anthony Peeler Jersey[/b] .com) - Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in the Australian Open final after both women cruised to straight-set victories on Thursday. Williams, looking to win her sixth Aussie Open title, took out fellow American Madison Keys 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to reach the final. With the first set all tied at 5-5, Williams was on serve when Keys went up 30-15 in the game, but Williams took the next three points before Keys smashed a backhand down the line to knot it up at 40-40. Williams ended up taking the next two points to win the game, then Keys kept the back-and-forth affair going with an ace to force a tiebreak. Williams had set point, up 6-3, in the tiebreak when Keys fired two aces to close within one, but Williams countered with an ace on her next serve to take the set. Williams pressured her opponent from the onset of the second set, taking the first game and breaking Keys in the process. However, Keys maintained composure and went up 40-15 in the next game, but Williams ended up grinding her way back and taking the game. After the two maintained serve over the next two games, Williams broke Keys again and eased her way to the finish. This was the first career meeting between Williams and Keys. The 33-yard-old Williams seeks her 19th grand slam championship and 65th career title overall. She is 5-0 in Australian Open finals. Williams, tied with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for the second-most womens grand slam titles in the Open Era behind Steffi Grafs 22, is 16-2 lifetime against Sharapova. Sharapova reached her 10th career grand slam final after beating countrymate Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets. Sharapova, seeded No. 2 behind Williams, rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 win over the 10th-seeded Makarova in 87 minutes. The 2008 Australian Open champion double-faulted seven times but fired 23 winners and three aces in the win. She has won 22 of her last 23 matches against fellow Russians and improved to 6-0 lifetime against Makarova, including 3-0 at the Australian Open following quarterfinals wins in 2012 and 2013. Chasing her sixth grand slam title and 35th career win, the 27-year-old Sharapova moved on to face the winner of Thursdays all-American semifinal between Williams and Madison Keyes. Sharapova is 5-4 in grand slam finals, including 1-2 at the Australian Open. Makarova, 26, made her second consecutive grand slam semifinal. She lost to Williams at last years U.S. Open.
[b]Shabazz Napier Jersey[/b] .The law passed on Friday, in a 128-62 vote in the lower chamber of parliament, was prompted by FIFA bribery scandals in recent years.Switzerland-based sports leaders such as FIFA President Sepp Blatter and IOC President Thomas Bach are now classed as politically exposed persons in wider legislation covering money-laundering.
[b]Minnesota Timberwolves Store[/b] . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday.BOSTON -- Jake Peavys known for studying hitters. It certainly gave him an edge against his former teammates. Peavy pitched seven strong innings, Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 7-2 on Saturday night for their sixth win in seven games. Acquired in a three-team, seven-player deal July 30 that sent infielder Jose Iglesias to Detroit, Peavy spent four seasons with the White Sox. The 32-year old right-hander went 36-29 after being picked up in a trade from San Diego on July 31, 2009. "I certainly knew that team in and out," he said. "I did know pretty much for the most part what they were going to do. I think that worked pretty much to my advantage." Peavy (11-5) allowed two runs and five singles in his sixth start for the Red Sox. He struck out four and walked one while throwing 109 pitches. Even White Sox manager Robin Ventura could see him working his hitters a certain way. "Hes good at seeing some weaknesses at people and he tried to exploit them," he said. "Today you could see him do it. You could see what he was trying to do. I dont know if its that easy at the plate, but, from afar, when youre sitting back, you could see him do it." Ellsbury also scored twice and drove in a run for the AL East-leaders. David Ortiz, who snapped an 0-for-23 stretch with a two-run single in Fridays win, went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI in Bostons 15-hit attack. It was the 11th straight game Bostons pitchers have held an opponent to three or fewer runs, matching the best since April of 1988. According to Elias Sports Bureau, its the most since 12 in a row in 1915. "Im certainly happy I wasnt the one to end it," Peavy said, smiling. Chicago, last in the AL Central, had won 10 of 12 before dropping the first two of a three-game series against Boston. Boston broke open a tie game with three runs in the fourth against John Danks (4-11), and then scored again in the fifth.
[b]Corey Brewer Jersey[/b]. That was more than enough for Peavy. "I dont think Jake can be any more amped up than he is in any game," Danks said. "He looked like typical Jake. He had a pretty good game plan and stuck to it. Thats why hes had the success hes had over how many years hes played. Hes certainly one of the best thats played." Ellsburys tiebreaking ground-rule double gave the Red Sox a 3-2 lead. Dustin Pedroia then drove in run with a groundout before Ortiz lined an RBI single to left. Rookie Xander Bogaerts, regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, added an RBI single in the fifth that made it 6-2. Danks gave up six runs, five earned, and 11 hits over five innings. He had won his previous two starts, allowing only two runs in 14 innings. "I knew I had to be good and simply wasnt," he said. "Jake did what he has to do with a lead." The Red Sox had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Mike Napolis RBI single. Chicago tied it on Alejandro De Azas run-scoring groundout. Jonny Gomes doubled home a run in the third, but the White Sox tied it again on Avisail Garcias RBI single. NOTES: The Red Sox announced a minor trade with Philadelphia during the game, acquiring utility INF John McDonald and cash for Single-A RHP Nefi Ogando. The 38-year old McDonald, a 15-year veteran, played for Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and the Phillies this season, hitting .098 in 45 games. ... Boston manager John Farrell said the club expects to call up three or four players when the rosters expand Sunday. ... White Sox 3B Conor Gillaspie made a diving catch of David Ross liner. ... Hall of Famer and former Red Sox and White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk was at the game. ... Felix Doubront (10-6, 3.74 ERA) faces Chicagos Andre Rienzo (1-0, 4.21 ERA) in the series finale Sunday. ... Chicagos Adam Dunn is 5 for his last 46. ... Boston finished August 16-12 and Chicago went 16-13. ' ' '
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