NEW YORK -- A couple of days before she returned to the site of her stunning upset of Serena Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open, Roberta Vinci was grabbing a coffee at a Starbucks in Manhattan when her breakfast was interrupted by fellow customers.Some Americans recognized me, Vinci recounted, a mix of appreciation and bewilderment written on her face. They complimented me, and they wished me good luck.Regardless of whatever else may come for Vinci on -- or, indeed, away from -- a tennis court, the Italian will always be remembered as the woman who stopped Williams bid to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam in more than a quarter-century. On Monday, Vinci made a successful return to Arthur Ashe Stadium, beating 46th-ranked Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-2, 6-4 in the U.S. Opens first round.The stakes and atmosphere were rather different from her previous two appearances in the tournaments main arena, which now features a retractable roof that provides extra shade even while open, as it was Monday, with the sky blue and the temperature at 90 degrees.A year ago, unseeded and ranked 43rd, Vinci beat Williams in the semifinals, then lost to another Italian, childhood friend Flavia Pennetta, in the first Grand Slam final for both.Its always beautiful to be back on that court, Vinci said. The stadium wasnt full, like when I played against Serena or when I played against Flavia. But its a special court ... so I tried to bring to mind the emotions of a year ago, to boost myself and think more positively than negatively.Those sorts of thoughts helped Vinci when she got into a bit of a second-set rut against Friedsam, who eliminated her at this years Australian Open.I tried to think of things from last year, Vinci said. Those moments on the court where I lived the most beautiful moments of my life from a tennis standpoint.Against Friedsam, Vinci displayed the same varied game that carried her past Williams, filled with frustrating slices and drop shots and angles. There were also the same grunts of Heh! accompanying most shots. And, when it ended, the same broad smile and quick wit that charmed New York spectators a year ago.She says she appreciates hearing from fans who realize who she is, whether via a greeting during a chance meeting at a coffee shop or via chants of Vinci! Vinci! during practice sessions.Vinci is seeded No. 7 at this U.S. Open, a big step up from 2015, and a status which brings with it the realization that if she cant duplicate last years run, her ranking will fall. She joked after Mondays victory that she had earned 60 ranking points by virtue of that result -- but says shes trying not to harp on that part of the equation.Everyone says, `Theres so much pressure on you! Thats normal. Thats normal, said Vinci, who will play Christina McHale of the U.S. next. Repeating the results of last year would be a dream.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich Off White Skor Sverige . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Nike Air Max 98 Sverige . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-270-react-rabatt.html . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Nike Air Max 2020 Rea .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. Nike Air Max 270 Dam Rea .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. On the first day of the Boston Major, eight teams fought for their metaphorical lives in Bostons Wang Theatre. After a heated group stage filled with upsets and surprises, Wednesdays elimination matches were set to be dramatic, with rivalries and rematches set to play out on the main stage.The series between Evil Geniuses and Wings Gaming was the highlight of the day; it was a matchup most expected to see in the semifinals or later. Both expected to take first in their groups, but upsets for both teams matched the former International champs against each other early in the bracket.EG struck first in the series, with Sumail Suma1L Hassans Alchemist farming up almost 1200 gold per minute, buffing his supports with Aghanims upgrades and rebuffing Wings Gaming from the high ground to push back and secure the win. Wings responded in Game 2 with a surprising Lycan pick for Zhou bLink Yang, but the minus-armor composition struggled against EGs aggressive Shadow Demon/Luna composition. Wings Gaming, winners of The International 6, were eliminated from the Boston Major with an unceremonious 2-0.OG would face a familiar foe in MVP Phoenix, the team who knocked the mean green into the lower bracket at TI6. MVPs rough group run didnt bode well, but the Korean team held its own against OG in Game 1, going blow for blow with the European top seed. OGs composition held out on the back of a last-pick Ember Spirit for Anathan ana Pham, securing the first game for OG. MVP Phoenix struck back hard in Game 2, with Lee Forev Sang-don putting up impressive numbers on Mirana, but OGs Gustav s4 Maagnusson made huge plays for his team, controlling teamfights and setting up OGs high-impact ultimates.dddddddddddd. Winning key fights, OG shut down MVP Phoenix and pushed into the ancient, securing the teams livelihood in Boston 2-0.Looking for another shot at Evil Geniuses, Complexity would have to take on Warriors Gaming Unity, a team that had also nabbed its share of upsets in the group stages. The two underdogs faced off, with WGU taking an early lead with a Shadow Demon/Luna draft complemented by some great Timbersaw play from Kam NaNa Boom Seng. Complexity banned the Demon in Game 2, trying to avoid a similar situation, but Kams Timbersaw slipped through the draft once again, ensuring the SEA qualifier team a top 8 berth in the major and a date with OG in the quarterfinals.Virtus.Pro, coming into the major on a hot streak and securing a top seed in Group B, looked confident against Group Ds bottom seed Invictus Gaming Vitality. A wipe of VP in Game 1 looked to swing the game in IGVs favor, but Virtus.Pro played back from the deficit and took Game 1 for themselves. A longer Game 2 saw early advantage shift back and forth some more, but Aghs pickups on Pavel 9pasha Khvastunovs Centaur Warrunner and Ilya Lil Ilyuks support Weaver secured teamfights for VP and ensured a Game 2 win, advancing the team onwards to face EG in the quarterfinals.Keep up-to-date on the Boston Major with the ESPN Esports website, Facebook, Twitter and the ESPN App. ' ' '
