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NEW YORK -- Novak Djokovics U.S. Open final against Stan Wawrinka on Sunday will be the Serbs third Grand Slam title match of 2016 and his seventh in the past eight majors.It is Djokovics 21st Grand Slam final in all, second in the history of mens tennis only to Roger Federers 28. And it gives Djokovic the chance to gain more ground in the championship count, too, of course: He can raise his trophy total to 13, which would place him alone in fourth place behind Federer (17), Rafael Nadal (14) and Pete Sampras (14).After a draining, and decidedly unusual, four-set victory over Gael Monfils in the semifinals Friday, when he got both shoulders massaged by a trainer, Djokovic looked forward to a bit of rest. Thats kind of rich, considering he has spent almost exactly half as much time on court as Wawrinka so far: a tad under 9 hours vs. slightly less than 18 hours.I have an extra day now to recover and get ready for the finals, which is, you know, where definitely I desire to be whenever I come to the Grand Slams, said Djokovic, the No. 1 seed and defending champion. I want to be able to put myself in position to fight for the trophy, and everything that has happened in the tournament so far is behind me now. My thoughts are only on Sundays match.As well they should be. For while No. 3 seed Wawrinka will be participating in only his third Grand Slam final, he won each of the other two. Plus, he has won each of his past 10 finals at all tournaments. And while he is only 4-19 against Djokovic over their careers, half of Wawrinkas victories came en route to his major titles, in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Australian Open and the final of the 2015 French Open.Stan is a big-match player, Djokovic acknowledged. He loves the big stage.Hes also something of a late bloomer.Wawrinka did not reach a Grand Slam semifinal until his 35th appearance in a major, at age 28.Now, a little more than five months past his 31st birthday, he can become the oldest U.S. Open champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970. Hed also be only the fifth man in the Open era with at least two major titles after 30 (his Swiss countryman and pal, Federer, only has one since turning that age).I know I have some ups and downs during the year. Im not playing my best tennis in every tournament. But Im trying to work as hard as I can to give me the chance to play well every time I step on the court, Wawrinka said after beating Kei Nishikori in a four-set semifinal. And in Grand Slams is where I want to play my best tennis, is where I want to be the better player, always find a way to find my game and to put everything together.Wawrinka, though, nearly departed Flushing Meadows last weekend. Thats when, in the third round against 64th-ranked Dan Evans, Wawrinka faced a match point in a fourth-set tiebreaker, saved it, and wound up winning in the fifth, repeatedly using whats become his trademark gesture: pointing an index finger to his temple.Whats that all about?Sometimes, I dont always find myself comfortable on the court and I have to fight with myself. So thats what Im focusing (on) here: to fight, to suffer, to accept to suffer, to accept that the player in front of me (is) playing better, he explained. And thats when Im happy with myself and proud of myself -- when I stay strong with what I want to do.Nothing he does on a court with his racket is as important as his smooth, one-handed backhand. When on-target, it might be the prettiest, and most effective, shot in all of tennis.Djokovic can lay claim to some superlatives, too. His return of serve ranks up there with the best ever. As do his body-twisting court coverage and ability to go from defense to offense just like that.This matchup will be Djokovics seventh U.S. Open final, and Wawrinkas first.In general, I know when I arrive in the final, Im ready to play my best tennis, and thats what Im looking for. Thats what Im trying to do, Wawrinka said. But ... when you play Novak, even playing your best tennis, you can also lose.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich China NFL Jerseys .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. NFL Jerseys Sale . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale.com/cheap-nba-jerseys . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Cheap Jerseys . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Oregon has fired football coach Mark Helfrich after a disappointing 4-8 season -- and just two years after getting the Ducks within a victory of the programs first national championship.We want to thank Mark for his eight years with the University of Oregon and appreciate his efforts on behalf of Oregon football, athletic director Rob Mullens said in announcing the firing.Helfrich was head coach of the Ducks for four seasons, leading the team to the first College Football Playoff championship game after the 2014 season. But Oregon faltered this season with a five-game losing streak and finished at the bottom of the Pac-12 North with just two conference wins. It was the Ducks worst season since 1991 (3-8) and marks the first time since 2004 that they wont appear in a bowl game.It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon, Helfrich said in a statement released by the school. It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple -- we didnt win enough games this season.Helfrich met with Mullens on Tuesday night and was told he was being dismissed. At a news conference following the announcement, Mullens said Oregon will look outside the program for candidates and that the new coach will make decisions about the current staff. There is no timeline for a decision, he said, but recruiting adds urgency to the process.A source told ESPNs Brett McMurphy that the Ducks next coach needs to be someone who would reinvigorate ticket sales.Expected candidates include Mississippi States Dan Mullen, North Carolinas Larry Fedora, South Floridas Willie Taggart, Boise States Bryan Harsin, West Virginias Dana Holgorsen, Western Michigans P.J. Fleck, Central Floridas Scott Frost (a former Oregon offensive coordinator) and Floridas Jim McElwain, sources told McMurphy.In 2009, Oregon became the first state to adopt a law -- similar to the NFLs Rooney Rule -- that requires all public universities to interview a minority candidate for every open head-coaching job.Mullens said at the news conference that he informed the players of his decision earlier in the evening.Those meetings are always difficult, theyre highly emotional, he said. When youre that close in your team, its a family. It was difficult. Players were upset, because they lost a family member.Helfrich, whose contract with Oregon includes an $11.6 million buyout, was 37-16 as head coach of the Ducks. He was Oregons offensive coordinator under innovator Chip Kelly, taking over the top job in 2013, when Kelly went to the NFL.Kelly, now coach of the 49ers, addressed rumors of a potential return to Eugene earlier this month.Im not looking to go back, and thats what Ive always said, so I dont know how its stayed a story, he said.The Ducks began this season ranked No. 24 in the preseason AP Top 25 but lost 35-32 at Nebraska in the third week of the season, starting a five-game losing streak, the teams longest since 1996.The Ducks had a brief revival with a 30-28 victory over then-No. 11 Utah in Salt Lake City two weeks ago, but they ended the season with a 34-24 loss to rival Oregon State in the 120th Civil War game on Saturday. The loss snapped an eight-game Oregon winning streak in the series.Afterward, Helfrich was asked about job security.Nobodys job is safe in college football, he said. Thats just the nature of the beast.Fan discontentment with Helfrich grew as the season dragged on and wins were scarce. Some questioned the wisdom of new assistant Brady Hokes defensive scheme and the reliance on graduate transfers at quarterback for the past two seasons, rather than long-term player development.ddddddddddddDidnt win enough games. I mean, thats blunt. But thats the fact. We have to own that part of it. And own the solution, Helfrich said following the loss to the Beavers.In addition to Oregons losing record this season, the schools announcement on Tuesday night pointed to the Ducks dependence on graduate transfers in 2015 and 2016. It also noted lopsided losses to Washington, USC and Stanford this season and the Ducks failure to convert on four of five 2-point attempts following touchdowns in the narrow loss to Nebraska.Whatever the reason, Oregons slide was a reminder of how hard it is to get good. And stay good.When Helfrich was promoted into the job at the start of 2013, he had the daunting task of replacing Kelly, who orchestrated Oregons hyperdrive spread-option offense and led the Ducks to their first national championship game appearance in 2010. An affable native Oregonian, Helfrich had served as offensive coordinator under Kelly and recruited and groomed future Heisman Trophy winner?Marcus Mariota.Helfrich went 24-4 in his first two seasons, including a loss to Ohio State in the first College Football Playoff championship. But last season, he was challenged with replacing Mariota. He lured graduate transfer Vernon Adams from Eastern Washington, but Adams struggled with injury.The cracks were showing in that 9-4 season, the first with fewer than 10 wins since 2007. A loss at Michigan State and defeats at home to Utah and Washington State pushed Oregon out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2009. The ultimate embarrassment came in the Alamo Bowl, when the Ducks surrendered a 31-0 lead and TCU staged the biggest comeback in bowl history to win 47-41 in triple overtime.This season, the Ducks brought in another graduate transfer at quarterback, Dakota Prukop from Montana State. But after five starts, Prukop was benched in favor of true freshman Justin Herbert.Herbert was one of the few bright spots in the dismal season, throwing for 1,936 yards and 19 touchdowns, with four interceptions, in nine appearances.The overwhelming drag on Oregons success appeared to be the defense. The Ducks, who switched to a 4-3 scheme under Hoke, spent most of the season mired in the bottom of the NCAA defensive rankings. At times, it appeared the players didnt know their assignments.The defensive shortcomings were readily apparent in Oregons 70-21 loss at home to No. 5 Washington on Oct. 8. Huskies quarterback Jake Browning threw for six touchdowns in the victory, which snapped a 12-game losing streak to the rival Ducks. And the issues on defense were again on display Saturday against the Beavers.Helfrich is the first head coach Oregon has fired since Don Read in 1976.Mullens -- who had been in Texas until Tuesday, taking part in meetings with the College Football Playoff committee -- said he waited to meet with Helfrich to put some distance between the emotions of the final loss.No one wanted Mark to be more successful than me, Mullens said. We were not competing in a number of games, and we were on a poor trajectory.In the statement on Tuesday night, Helfrich thanked his wife and family, the campus community, the fans and his coaches and their families.Finally, to the players -- thank you, and I love you, he said. The future is bright for this young, talented team, and we will be supporting them and their new leadership.The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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