Kritik und Lob » K at home in nearby Avondale after being

WASHINGTON -- John Isner hit 18 aces and never faced a break point during a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus on Friday that put the American in the Citi Open semifinals. Isner won for the 10th time in his past 11 matches as he gets ready for the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 26 on hard courts similar to those used in Washington. "Im in a good rhythm and Im serving well," said Isner, who has 49 aces and was broken only once in three matches this week. "Id like to think I can hold my serve no matter whats under my feet, but I do think this (surface) helps my serve." The 20th-ranked and eighth-seeded Isner, who won the hard-court title at Atlanta last week, will face unseeded Dmitry Tursunov of Russia for a berth in Sundays final. The 61st-ranked Tursunov overcame 13 double-faults with the help of 15 aces to beat a cramping Marinko Matosevic of Australia 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4). Saturdays match against Isner -- who won the longest match in tennis history, 70-68 in the fifth set at Wimbledon in 2010 -- will be only Tursunovs second semifinal of the season, and his first at Washington since 2006. The semifinal on the other side of the mens draw pits top-seeded and two-time champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina against No. 3-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany. Del Potro, winner of the 2009 U.S. Open, grabbed 15 consecutive points during one stretch and defeated No. 7-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-6 (0), 6-3. Like Isner, del Potro did not face a break point in the quarterfinals. The 35-year-old Haas defeated No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3). Defending womens champion Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia returned to the semifinals by beating top-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 7-6 (0), 3-6, 6-3, and now will play No. 3 Ekaterina Makarova of Russia. No. 4 Alize Cornet of France meets 64th-ranked Andrea Petkovic of Germany in the other semifinal. Makarova played only four points -- winning all of them -- and moved on when her quarterfinal opponent, Monica Niculescu of Romania, stopped after one game because of a left wrist injury. Cornet eliminated No. 5 Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Petkovic advanced with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over 79th-ranked Paula Ormaechea of Argentina. Petkovic is a former top-10 player whose career was sidetracked by injuries, including a stress fracture in her lower back and ankle and knee operations. "Im just so grateful for the second chance," Petkovic said. "I really think of it as a second chance."Jamal Murray Nuggets Jersey . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Michael Porter Jersey . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-allen-iverson-nuggets-jersey/ .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Jarred Vanderbilt Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Carmelo Anthony Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift.COLLEGE FOOTBALLIn another step toward redefining the amateur status of college athletes, Northwestern has agreed to drop social media restrictions placed on football players after a complaint about the team handbook was filed with the National Labor Relations Board.ESPN first reported the complaint was withdrawn in September after Northwestern agreed to modify its rules. The NLRBs advisory memo states the scholarship football players are assumed to be statutory employees and that certain team rules were unlawful. That could affect players at the other 16 private schools that compete in FBS.A group of former Northwestern players, led by an advocacy group for college athletes, failed last year in its attempt to gain the right to unionize the team from the NLRB, although the door was left open for other changes when the board said the players should be treated as employees. The board has no jurisdiction over public institutions, which include the vast majority of colleges and universities in Division I.DERRICK ROSE LAWSUITLOS ANGELES -- The night after Derrick Rose and two of his friends had sex with his ex-girlfriend, he had a hunch she was going to claim they raped her, the NBA star testified Tuesday.Rose said he became suspicious of the woman when she texted later the same day of the alleged early morning attack in August 2013 to say how inebriated she had been and to describe burns she claimed she got on her hands from a fire pit outside his Beverly Hills house. Rose said he believed she was sober and never witnessed any burns the night before.It looked like a setup, Rose said. It turned out to be what I thought.Rose testified for a second day in the $21.5 million lawsuit that claims he and his friends had sex without the womans consent when she was incapacitated from drinking and, possibly, drugs. The woman claims the three entered her apartment and had sex with her while she was blacked out after drinking tequila at Roses rental house earlier and other booze she had before she got there.PRO HOCKEYNEW YORK -- The NHL is adding a staff of spotters to better help identify players who may have sustained a concussion and have them removed from games for evaluation.In an enhancement of its concussion protocol, the league announced the spotters will monitor all game broadcasts from the NHLs headquarters in New York. The spotters are certified athletic trainers who have hockey experience and educated in identifying signs of potential concussions.They will have the authority to contact teams directly to have players removed during a game. The players will not be allowed to return until being cleared by the teams medical staff.The NHL will also have concussion spotters attending each game.Previously, there had been team-afffiliated concussion spotters in each arena and they could recommend to medical staffs but not require players be removed from a game.ddddddddddddThe new rules were announced a day before the NHL opens the regular season. The policy first went into effect during the World Cup of Hockey tournament last month.BASEBALLATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves named Brian Snitker manager, rewarding him for reversing the teams direction in his role as interim manager this season.The Braves finished last in the NL East but won 20 of their last 30 games under Snitker, who was named interim manager on May 17 after Fredi Gonzalez was fired. Snitker had a 59-65 record, including 37-35 after the All-Star break.Despite the strong finish under Snitker, the Braves also interviewed former managers Bud Black and Ron Washington.Washington was named the Braves third-base coach and Chuck Hernandez was named pitching coach. Snitkers staff also includes bench coach Terry Pendleton, first base coach Eddie Perez, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting coach Jose Castro and bullpen coach Marty Reed.Snitker, 61, was not given much long-term security. He was hired only for the 2017 season with a club option for 2018.UNDATED -- Tim Tebow comforted a fan who was having a seizure, praying and talking college football with the man after the former NFL quarterback played his first baseball game in the Arizona Fall League.I just remember just being very disoriented, Brandon Berry told The Associated Press by phone. Then I saw Tim.Berry had the seizure following a game in Glendale, Arizona, held at Camelback Ranch, the spring training home for two major league teams. Tebow stayed with Berry for 15 to 20 minutes until paramedics took him from the stadium, praying for Berry while placing a hand on his leg.The 30-year-old Berry said he was OK at home in nearby Avondale after being released from the hospital.Berry said he doesnt remember much after the seizure, except that he told the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner that he cheered for Georgia -- an SEC rival of Tebows Florida Gators.OLYMPICSROME -- Italy suspended Romes bid for the 2024 Olympics, forced to pull the plug because of the staunch opposition of the citys mayor.Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago said that he had written to the IOC announcing the decision to interrupt the candidacy.While the letter left open a small possibility for a revival of the bid if there is a change in city government, Malago didnt hold out much hope.The move comes after Romes city council voted last month to withdraw support of the bid on the recommendation of Mayor Virginia Raggi. ' ' '