The autumn segment of tennis grinding year-round calendar can be a players time for atonement -- a chance to get back on track and make up ground. And really, who needs atonement more than Nick Kyrgios?The mercurial 21-year-old won his third title of the year -- but his biggest yet -- Sunday at the Japan Open, an ATP 500 event. The three-set win against higher-ranked and ultra-smooth No. 14-ranked David Goffin was impressive in all the ways that really count.Kyrgios won it coming from behind, having dropped the first set, despite having played an exhausting, high-quality semifinal against Gael Monfils in the previous round. Weve seen Kyrgios come up flat after surviving long matches in the past (hello, Wimbledon 2016). Not this time. The final score: 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.The win was built on the legs of Kyrgios best weapon, his serve. The big, precisely placed, smoking-hot delivery was there at every turn when Kyrgios really needed it. He was able to ward off 11 of 12 break points in the final, recover twice from love-40 deficits and hit 21 aces.Just as importantly, Kyrgios played a beautifully modulated, focused match. His explosive temper never erupted. His tendency to go into a fugue state, muttering to himself, spraying balls all over the court and rushing shots and airing petty grievances, never emerged. His maturity was striking and well-expressed.It was tough; we had a lot of long rallies, Kyrgios told the media after the match. I thought the way I returned today got me a lot of opportunities. It was a high-quality match, but I got lucky at times as well.Humility. Geez, has this Australian hellion, reviled by so many as a millennial monster, transformed overnight into Rod Laver?Well see. One thing we know for sure is that Kyrgios really enjoys playing in Japan, and the local crowds appreciate and embrace him in a way that may make him relaxed and comfortable, perhaps more comfortable than he is elsewhere.Its understandable. Kyrgios is Greek on his fathers side, and his mother is Malaysian. The Aussies now see themselves as a Pacific Rim nation rather than a far-flung Anglo outpost, so other Asians have a legitimate claim on Kyrgios as one of their own.[The crowd is] very enthusiastic and very respectful, Kyrgios said.Respect is a courtesy that Kyrgios, like other young men his age, has always seemed to crave. Its easy to overlook that in the blur of flamboyant haircuts and sometimes shocking antics that have defined Kyrgios. And hes probably had a hard time understanding that while you may expect respect in your everyday dealings in life, in the public arena its something that you earn even if youre a sensation. He seems to be figuring all that out.Great players dont like to lose, and often find it hard to act like model citizens when they do. Kyrgios likely is also learning that with his competitive temperament, life gets a lot easier if take care of business and win matches. It allows your inner nice guy to flourish.Well see how reconstructed Kyrgios truly is, if and when the speed bumps appear in his road again. Right now, it looks as if the criticism he took after barely putting in an effort in his fourth-round loss against Andy Murray at Wimbledon hit home.Kyrgios took a bad loss at the Canada Masters 1000 to a wild card in his next match but rebounded with a title run in Atlanta (while most of the tours stars were at the Rio Olympics). That seemed to get him back on track, and he hasnt had a bad loss since. (Kyrgios was forced to pull out of the US Open with a hip injury before his third-round match.) Ranked No. 19 after Wimbledon, he is at a career high as of Monday.Well see where he goes from here, but for now, its encouraging enough that the ultratalented Kyrgios is taking advantage of the season of atonement without any of the antics that have largely defined his career to this point.Youth Tom Brady Jersey Tom Brady Jersey Nike . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/michael-jordan-jersey/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Authentic Michael Jordan Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. College Tom Brady Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St.ATLANTA -- Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem prior to the United States womens national team game on Sunday. This gesture of continued social protest leaves her at odds with the stated expectations of her coach and U.S. Soccer for the second time in four days.A U.S. Soccer spokesperson confirmed before Sundays game that no punishment was levied on Rapinoe as a result of kneeling against Thailand.But U.S. Soccer indicated that the situation could be re-evaluated if Rapinoe continued to kneel during the anthem.On Sunday, Rapinoe stood on the sideline alongside other U.S. non-starters during the national anthem of the visiting team -- the Netherlands -- then dropped to one knee as the U.S. anthem began to play.Any displeasure among the fans in attendance was muted, though in the silence before the anthem a lone voice in the stands could be heard yelling, Stand up.Obviously there were boos tonight, boos and cheers tonight. I totally respect that, Rapinoe said. People feel a certain way, and I want to be respected for the way that I feel. I think thats their right to do that. I totally understand that. That said, theres some people that support me.Rapinoe said she had met with coach Jill Ellis and media-relations official Aaron Heifetz and just sort of talked through my process.I havent talked to U.S. Soccer outside of these guys, and theyre the ones here with me so I expect that would be who I would talk to, Rapinoe said. But yeah, I want to keep everybody in the loop. Its sort of an ongoing thought process. Whats the best way to handle everything and, for me, whats the best way moving forward? And then, obviously, it affects everyone, so I want to appreciate and make sure Im keeping everyone in the loop and hearing their opinions and giving mine as well.Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem prior to a Sept. 4 National Womens Soccer League game, shortly after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick?protested the anthem on the sideline of NFL games.?I thinkk just the conversation at large is really kind of picking up steam .dddddddddddd... Rapinoe said. I think its taking that in stride and understanding and respecting and appreciating that people can be upset with what Im talking about or the fact that Im kneeling.But also knowing there is so much support out there, and I feel that. And thats important for me to kind of take a step back and see both sides and get a bigger picture that the conversation is happening, and its going in a positive direction. I think more people are engaged in the issues I want to talk about.U.S. Soccer had issued a statement that said, in part, it is the federations expectation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played. That echoed earlier comments made by Ellis.Its a very tough topic, Ellis said. Megans intent is to have people talking about that. You hope that at some point that comes. People are going to be very passionate, very opinionated, and I respect that, too. ... My hope is that we move forward in a positive way. In not just this but in a lot of different things, in terms of having discussions about hard issues and people committing to things and being passionate about things.The national team next plays on Oct. 19 in Utah in the first of two games against Switzerland. Rapinoes professional team, Seattle Reign FC, plays its regular-season finale Sunday in a nationally televised game on the road against the Houston Dash.I dont know why [when she stops kneeling] has to be the most important thing in this, Rapinoe said. I think in a large way its OK, youve knelt, youve made your point. But I dont necessarily feel like that. I dont know what that looks like. Do I kneel forever? I dont know, probably not. But I think until I can feel like Im being more effective in other ways, then this seems appropriate to me. ' ' '
