Stars und Sternchen! » week but couldnt be made official

Serena Williams beat Flavia Pennetta in straight sets Wednesday night to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open. The top-seeded Williams, playing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal of the year, overcame a slow start to post a 6-3, 6-2 victory over the 11th-seeded Italian at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Williams stormed back to take the first set, winning six straight games after Pennetta earned two breaks while jumping out to a 3-0 lead. The 32-year-old American star broke Pennettas serve twice in the second set and won when Pennetta netted a return on match point. Williams kept her hopes alive for a third straight Flushing Meadows title and sixth overall. She is the first player to advance to the semifinals at the U.S. Open aged 32 or older since Martina Navratilova in 1991. Pennetta, who was bidding to reach her second career Grand Slam semifinal, fell to 0-6 against Williams and 2-8 against world No. 1s. Williams next plays Russian Ekaterina Makarova. The 17th-seeded Makarova secured a berth in her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal with a mild upset over two-time runner-up Victoria Azarenka. Makarova doused Azarenka 6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour, 27 minutes at Ashe Stadium. The Belarusian star Azarenka piled up six double faults and was broken four times on Day 10 of the fortnight. Unusually low-key for most of the match, Azarenka smashed her racquet after a crucial unforced error gave Makarova a break and a 4-2 lead in the second set. The left-handed Makarova is now 3-3 lifetime against Azarenka, including 1-1 at the majors. The former world No. 1 Azarenka is having trouble re-locating her once- formidable game after returning to action in June after being sidelined with a foot injury for three months. The 26-year-old Moscow native Makarova has played in at least the quarterfinals at four of the last eight and five of the last 12 Grand Slam events. She has yet to drop a set at the 2014 U.S. Open. Azarenka had won 16 of her previous 18 matches in Flushing and by failing to reach the semifinals this week, she will now drop out of the top 20. She lost to Williams in the U.S. Open final the past two years. Lucas Vazquez Jersey . On Sunday, hell attempt to become the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide race on Iowas short track. The 20-year-old Blaney wont be the only kid pushing a podium finish. Jordi Alba Jersey . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework. http://www.spainsoccerpro.com/Alvaro-Odriozola-Spain-Jersey/. -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. Marco Asensio Jersey . Jonathan Crompton led the team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Crompton threw three touchdown passes - two to Duron Carter and one to Brandon London - and Sean Whyte connected on four field goals to power the Alouettes to the win. Thiago Alcantara Spain Jersey . The judge sternly instructed the prosecutor to restrain himself and he apologized -- then went right back to trying to pick holes in the testimony of the double-amputee runner. It was a harsh day of cross-examination for Pistorius, challenged relentlessly about his account of the moments just before he killed Reeva Steenkamp, as well as circumstances related to several firearms charges against him, including the firing of a gun in a crowded restaurant.TORONTO - She was a freestyle ski pioneer, a perennial X Games winner who championed womens ski halfpipe becoming an Olympic event. Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday. "I think shed be pretty overwhelmed, shed be pretty humbled by the whole thing," Burkes father, Gordon, said following the news conference. "Certainly, shes had a lot of nice things happen to her lately as far as awards go but this is a special one. "Its for all of Canada. I think shed be grateful." Also selected were ski jumper Horst Bulau, cross-country skier Pierre Harvey, hockey player Geraldine Heaney, figure skater Elizabeth Manley and rugby player Gareth Rees. Wheelchair basketball pioneer Tim Frick and basketball coach Kathy Shields were named as builders. Burke, who spent her early years in Barrie, Ont., before moving to Squamish, B.C., was the first woman to land a 720-, 900- and 1080-degree rotation jump in competition. She was a world champion, a four-time X Games gold medallist and was a driving force in womens ski halfpipe being included at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. But Burke never got the opportunity to compete in Russia. She died Jan. 19, 2012 while training in Utah. Gordon Burke said his daughters induction will only create more exposure for her sport. "That was always something she absolutely pushed for harder than anything else was to get more and more people into it, especially girls," he said. "She loved it so much and had so much fun that she wanted everybody to keep having the same amount of fun she was having. "As long as she knew everybody was having a good time and living life in a good way, she was happy." Manley, 48, who captured the 1988 womens Olympic figure-skating silver medal in Calgary, said her thoughts immediately turned to her late mother, Joan, when she first learned of her induction. "My mom was my best friend and my biggest supporter and its moments like this when you go, Gosh, I wish she was here to share in this great moment with me." Manley said. "But the time between the call and being here made me really appreciate what Ive done. "Sometimes as an athlete we dont sit back and appreciate ourselves enough, were always go, go, go. This is something that has made me really realize I am maybe a legacy in figure skating for this country and many, many years after Im long gone Ill still be remembered. Thats such a great feeling, its really rewarding for me.dddddddddddd" Manley, a native of Belleville, Ont., was a three-time Canadian champion and a silver medallist at the 1988 world championships. She was also the first female skater in Canada to successfully land a triple-double combination jump in competition and in 88 received the Order of Canada. But Manleys biggest battle came off the ice with severe depression. She has made her fight public hoping it can help others deal with mental illness. "My passion today is working with mental illness and working with teens and youth because I was a teen who struggled and I didnt have that availability to embrace the help that was available for me," she said. "There were years and years of people giving to Elizabeth Manley and I feel now standing here its my turn to give back and thats what Im really about." Rees, a 46-year-old native of Duncan, B.C., was one of the most accomplished rugby players Canada has ever produced. Hes the only man to have represented his country —starting every game — in four straight Rugby World Cups (1987, 91, 95, and 99) and remains among the top-10 in all-time tournament scoring. And until recently, Rees was the Canadian teams all-time leading scorer. Twice he served as Canadas captain at the Rugby World Cup (95, 99) and played professionally for 10 years, winning scoring titles in France, Wales and England. But ever the team player, Rees deflected the praise for his induction to the other players he shared the field with. "This says a lot about my teammates, the things we achieved on the world stage and were able to show the world game what Canadians are all about," he said. "We learned playing rugby here in Canada and were able to take that on the international stage and do well. "Obviously, as a game rugby is getting more recognition in Canada and thats great. I think the values of the game are still as true now as when I started playing and the access boys and girls have to play it is very important. And sevens rugby being in the Olympics has changed all that and its great to see." And although rugby is now an Olympic sport, Rees doesnt long for the opportunity to turn back time and become an Olympian. "I feel Im pretty lucky about the time I played," Rees said. "It wasnt pro when I started, I got my education and then I turned pro and had some good years in Europe so I dont think Id change it. "Sevens is a pretty tough go. I dont know if Id make some of the teams now." 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