LONDON -- Everything is falling into place for Novak Djokovic at the World Tour Finals, which will make a welcome change, given some of his tribulations the past six months.On Thursday, we will be spared a potential second-round clash between the Serb and Gael Monfils, who withdrew from the Tour Finals because of a rib injury he picked up last month in Stockholm.Monfils rope-a-dope tactics infuriated those inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and beguiled Djokovic in their US Open semifinal clash just a couple months ago. No one is probably happier to see Monfils exit the tournament than Djokovic, who won that match in four difficult sets.?You know, you work so hard for this moment, then [to] not be able [to] play your best is a huge deception for me, Monfils said in a news conference Wednesday. To not be able to finish it, I attempted to play in two matches. I have a couple of stuff I wanted to show. Im disappointed.One mans loss is anothers gain, though, and now alternate David Goffins trip to London wont be as just a tourist.There will be pride on the line in Thursdays afternoon session. Like all the original members of Group Ivan Lendl, Goffin has never beaten Djokovic. His losing streak stands at four, including a semifinal loss earlier this year in Miami.With a 2-0 record this week, Djokovic is already guaranteed a place in the semifinals as the group winner; little else will be at stake when the Belgian takes on the world No. 2.It is another boost for the 12-time Grand Slam champion, who is seeking a fifth consecutive title here and sixth overall. A championship would guarantee him the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time in six years. Last Monday,?Andy Murray ended Djokovics 122-week reign at the top.Unlike Murray, who faces a tough battle against Stan Wawrinka?on Friday to potentially secure his place in the last four, Djokovic can put his feet up with an extra days rest.It could mean another trip to one of Londons green spots with his family.?Well, Hyde Park is one of the nicest parks there is in this city, Djokovic said of a venture outside earlier this week. Because of its vastness, I guess you have so many different contents: the lake, nature, different amusement for adults and for children. My son is here. Obviously, I try to dedicate my time daily to him, at least in the morning.We take a stride. We play with the ducks and swans, ball, playground. It keeps me relaxed. It keeps me grounded as well. I get to spend time with my family and him, quality time. Its very important.Djokovic just needs to better Murray this week, which has become a more conceivable prospect as the week has progressed. The Scot might be on a 21-match win streak (including four titles), but he faces a nightmare run of three matches in three days, should he make it to the final.Playing a 3-hour, 20-minute marathon against Kei Nishikori?on Wednesday did not help his cause. Murray needed an ice bath after that grueling, three-set win.Although Djokovic doesnt have much on the line Thursday, Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem will compete in a straight shootout in the evening session, with the winner awarded second place -- and the coveted semifinal spot -- in the group.Hes playing well, Raonic said of the 23-year-old Austrian. Hes been doing stuff well throughout this whole year. Just like myself, he played extremely well at the beginning of the year. Hasnt necessarily played his best tennis since.Fortunately for me, I hope it works out that way. This is one of my best surfaces. I dont know if indoor hard courts is necessarily his. So hopefully I can take time away from him and play on my terms and have him react to the things I put forward and try to push him around.As the home stretch of this years ATP World Tour Finals approaches, the players are feeling the building pressure to win or go home. Everyone except Djokovic, that is.Cleveland Browns Jerseys .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Britton Colquitt Jersey . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. http://www.brownsauthenticproshop.com/Youth-Jim-Brown-Browns-Jersey/ . 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"It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said.RIO DE JANEIRO -- The race was billed as the Bledisloe Cup of rowing, but in the end, the trans-Tasman showdown for gold between Australias Kim Brennan and New Zealands Emma Twigg never materialised.Brennan dominated from start to finish, painting Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in brilliant green and gold, while Twigg was left trailing in her wake.Brennan saved Australian rowing here in Rio. Australia used to be a superpower, but after an absence of golds at London 2012 and just two silvers here heading into Saturday, the panic button was being readied. But then came along Brennan who stormed home.Campaign Number One, an initiative to establish Australia as the worlds best, will be launched after the Rio Games, but Brennans triumph here will give them a secure platform from which to inspire the next generation.Brennan, who chairs the Australia Olympic Committees Athletes Commission, is a reluctant hero, but lived up to her tag of favourite heading into the race and embraced the pressure.One of the dangers of our sport is around the dangers of where youll be or where you wont be, Brennan said. This sport has always been about getting the most out of yourself and being calm under pressure.The most pressure comes from myself because I know how much Ive put into this over the years.I was away from my husband for three-and-a-half months, and its really quite a selfish thing to do, and the pressure was partly because I wanted to make it feel worthwhile.You can walk away incredibly happy if you know youve given the best show of yourself, and Im so chuffed to have a gold medal.After winning bronze and silver in 2012 she established dominance in the single sculls -- the last time she failed to win a race before she got to Rio was in 2014, with Twigg taking that one.But it wasnt straightforward from the start in Rio. She struggled in the first heat amid the windy conditions and choppy waters but found her stride in the semifinals where she facced Twigg.ddddddddddddIt was all geared up for a wonderful battle between the two in the final after Twigg challenged Brennan in the semis with a late sprint she hoped would give her Aussie rival and friend something to think about.But as Brennan looked up to Cristo Redentor and found a tranquility -- I just thought how bloody cool is this -- it was commanding from Brennan as she won by 1:38 ahead of USAs Genevra Stone with Twigg in fourth.I went into it with a technical focus, to sit up and keep the beat up a bit more, Brennan said. I was racing my race and that worked in my favour. When the crosswind kicked in, that makes it harder for people to sprint, so I just stayed calm in those closing stages.Competitiveness and sporting prowess is embedded in Brennans blood. Her father Max Crow played AFL for Essendon, St Kilda and Footscray, and she is married to Scott Brennan who, before today, won Australias last rowing gold in 2008.It was funny, she said. The song they played when I went to the podium was the song we played for our wedding dance, but it was just one of those moments where it just felt like it was meant to be.But I can stop feeling inadequate. My husband has a gold medal, so now were even.Its a bit ironic that sportspeople are held up as heroes. In reality were the lucky ones. Were living our dreams, so I want to be there for my family more and be a better support to the people around me.The bad news for Brennan is now she will have to find new things to visualise when she allows her mind to drift: the gold is proof that dreams do come true.Its one of those things where you do so much visualisation and you imagine that moment so many times, Brennan said. Just crossing the line I couldnt work out whether that was actually it or that was just my imagination again; I cant really believe it. ' ' '
