Allgemeines » San Diego is off Thursday

PARIS -- Trying to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open is, without a doubt, the toughest task in tennis. Indeed, must be among the greatest challenges in all of sports. The pressure he applies, from set to set, game to game, point to point, shot to shot. That bullwhip of a high-bouncing, topspin lefty forehand. Those quick-reflex returns that help him break an opponents serve -- and his will. Doing what he does so well on the red clay of Roland Garros, a surface and site he dominates so completely, the No. 1-seeded Nadal wore down No. 2 Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 in a muggy final Sunday to win his ninth French Open championship and fifth in a row, both records. For me, Nadal said, playing here in Roland Garros is just unforgettable, forever. It is also his 14th Grand Slam title overall, tying the 28-year-old Spaniard with Pete Sampras for the second most by a man, behind only Roger Federers 17. That includes Nadals two trophies apiece at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, along with one from the Australian Open, proving he can beat the best on grass and hard courts, too. But its on the clay of Paris where Nadal reigns supreme: He has won 66 of 67 career French Open matches. Since the only loss, against Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009, Nadal has won 35 consecutive matches at Roland Garros. No other man has won more than seven titles at any of tennis four majors. Its not impossible, but its very, very difficult to stay with Rafa in this court, throughout the whole match, on the highest level of performance, said Djokovic, who was broken in the final game of each set, including with an anticlimactic double-fault on match point. Nadal ensured that he, not Djokovic, will be ranked No. 1 on Monday. In the process, Nadal once again prevented six-time major champion Djokovic from completing a career Grand Slam. He deserves to win this tournament, Nadal said. I am sure he will do it in the future. Djokovic had won their four most recent matches, including on clay in the best-of-three-set final at Rome last month. Beating Nadal in best-of-five is a whole other matter. Nadal also topped Djokovic in the 2012 final, and the 2013 semifinals. In all, Nadal leads Djokovic 6-0 at the French Open, 9-3 at major tournaments, and 23-19 in total. No other pair of men has played each other as often. The defeat in Rome was one of three this season on clay for Nadal, raising questions about whether hed be unbeatable at Roland Garros this time. There also was the matter of his troublesome back, which flared up during a loss to Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open final and slowed his serve at times during the French Open. For 3 1/2 hours Sunday, when the sky was crystal clear and the temperature touched 80 degrees (27 Celsius), Djokovic gave everything he had, even spitting up on court. I played at the maximum of my power, my strength, and my capability, Djokovic said, but Rafa was the best player. Using his backhand to great effect against Nadals forehand early, Djokovic grabbed the first set, and got to 5-all in the second. I felt, Nadal said, the match was more in his hands at the beginning. Knowing that overcoming a two-set hole might be too much even for him, Nadal raised his level, taking 20 of 26 points to claim that set and a 3-0 lead in the third. Without that second set, I dont know if I have this trophy with me now, Nadal would say later. When a down-the-line forehand winner ended the second set, Nadal leaped and shook both fists, his first sign of real emotion. The momentum went (to) his side, Djokovic said. I started playing quite bad and didnt move as well. Struggled a little bit physically throughout that third set. That was apparent. His cheeks were flushed. He put his hand on his heaving chest. He wobbled and nearly fell over while sitting on his changeover bench. Still, after trailing 4-2 in the fourth, Djokovic made one last stand. As skilled a retriever as his formidable foe -- Djokovic won 10 of the first 15 points that lasted at least 10 strokes -- he came up with a desperation defensive lob that landed right near the baseline, drawing a netted overhead from Nadal to earn a break point. Soon, it was 4-all. But Nadal steadied himself to hold to 5-4, then broke one last time. Soon enough, he was clutching the French Open trophy, his trophy. Kyle Tucker Jersey . Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun the international tournament will likely return in September 2016 rather than 2015. Lance Berkman Jersey . When a game is in the balance, however, they still have the personnel and the experience to end up with the two points. https://www.cheapastros.com/73o-roberto-...astros.html.com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday. Don Wilson Jersey . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. J. R. Richard Astros Jersey . The 155th edition of the Plate for Canadian-foaled three-year-olds, the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America, will be televised live on TSN in HD (High Definition) in a special presentation from 4:30 – 6:00 pm ET. Post time is 5:38 pm. SAN DIEGO -- It was a classic win by the punchless San Diego Padres. Everth Cabreras bunt single in the first inning was the only hit Wednesday by the Padres, who still beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 thanks to Francisco Lirianos wildness. "Thats Padres baseball right there," Cabrera said with a big grin. The Padres hit only two balls out of the infield: one that was caught by an outfielder and the other was a sacrifice fly that was caught by second baseman Josh Harrison in short right. "There are lot of ways to win a baseball game and that was one of them," said manager Bud Black, who has presided over two of the three victories in franchise history in which the Padres had only one hit. San Diego won 1-0 at San Francisco on April 20, 2010, when Jonathan Sanchez and Sergio Romo combined on a one-hitter. San Diego beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on July 19, 1975, when Steve Stone and Tom Dettore had a combined one-hitter. "You never know whats going to happen in a big league game," Black said. "Anytime you win its great, but when you win a game like that where you only get one knock, its a pretty good one. Feel good about it." The Padres played ultimate small-ball, scoring on a sacrifice fly, an error and a bases-loaded walk to avoid a three-game sweep. Rene Riveras fly to Andrew McCutcheon to end the eighth was the only ball fielded by a Pirates outfielder. "Nobody can beat us when we go 23 outs before the first one goes to the outfield," Black cracked. Carlos Quentin hit a sacrifice fly in the first, but it was caught in short right by Harrison. Ian Kennedy (5-6) won his third straight start, striking out seven and allowing two runs on five hits in six innings. He walked one. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 18th save in as many chances. Three Pirates pitchers issued nine walks, two intentional, and hit one batter. The Padres struck out 10 times. San Diego has only 12 hits in its last four games. "I dont think I have ever been a part of that situation where you lose a close game on one hit, albeit a bunt," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Although, they did have a bunch of baserunners." Liriano (1-6) walked six and struck out seven in five innings.dddddddddddd He walked the bases loaded in the fourth inning and then walked Chris Denorfia to give the Padres a 3-1 lead. San Diego took a 2-0 lead in the first. Denorfia drew a leadoff walk, stole second and took third when Cabrera beat out a push bunt for a single. Quentin hit the sacrifice fly caught by Harrison. His throw home was well up the third-base line. After Chase Headley was hit by a pitch, Cabrera scored on Harrisons throwing error on Tommy Medicas grounder. "We had a runner on second base. We dont hit it that much," Cabrera said. "I had Carlos Quentin behind me and I was thinking, Put the ball in play. Push bunt and thats it. "The most important thing is that we won the game," Cabrera said. "It doesnt matter how." Said Liriano: "It just got a little confusing. He put it in the right spot, it was a good bunt. I wasnt expecting a bunt on a 3-2 count." Pittsburgh pulled to 2-1 on Andrew McCutcheons homer to left leading off the fourth, his sixth. The Pirates added another run in the fifth when Harrison doubled in Jordy Mercer, who was aboard on a leadoff single. NOTES: Padres RHP Andrew Cashner threw a bullpen session and could start Saturday night against Washington if he doesnt have a setback. Hes been on the disabled list with soreness in his right elbow since May 15. ... The Padres recalled INF Jace Peterson from Triple-A El Paso and optioned RHP Jesse Hahn to Double-A San Antonio. Peterson, in his second stint with the Padres, started at second base in place of Jedd Gyorko, whos hitting only .162. ... Peterson hit .174 in 10 games, including seven starts, in his first stint with the Padres. ... Hahn lasted 2 2-3 innings in his major league debut in a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. ... San Diego is off Thursday and will open a three-game series against Washington on Friday, when the scheduled starters are Tanner Roark (3-4, 3.25) for the Nationals and Tyson Ross (6-4, 2.85) for the Padres. ... Pittsburgh also is off Thursday and returns home to open a series against Milwaukee on Friday, when the scheduled starters are Kyle Lohse (7-1, 2.60) for the Brewers and Brandon Cumpton (0-2, 6.85) for the Pirates. ' ' '