NEW YORK -- The contrasting sides to the enigma that is Nick Kyrgios were on full display in his second-round win at the US Open.One moment in the second set, he was laughing to himself for pulling off Roger Federers famous SABR maneuver -- a Sneak Attack By Roger -- on an unsuspecting Horacio Zeballos, creeping forward on one of the Argentines serves to hammer home a return from the T.But it wasnt all fun and games in Kyrgios 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory -- the controversial Australian chided a cameraman for getting in too close at the change of ends after he had gone up two sets and a break.Jesus Christ, said Kyrgios as he threw a sweaty towel over the intruding camera lens.Most important, though, was that his prodigious talent was also on show. Kyrgios put on a masterful serving display, firing 27 aces -- two on consecutive second serves to close out the first set -- and winning 94 percent of points on his first serve.The secret behind this powerful weapon? I dont really know, to be honest, he said in an on-court interview postmatch. I just go to the line and serve.It proved to be crucial, with his right hip injury flaring up. Kyrgios had to call for the trainer again and received treatment on court.My serve sort of got me out of trouble tonight, he told reporters. Yeah, it [the injury] was obviously bothering me a little bit. But, you know, Im doing everything I can for it. Im getting a lot of physio for it.It could have gone on a lot longer. Im happy I got off quickly. Just under two hours. Still, a relatively decent match.It was his second match on the new Grandstand Stadium court, and the 21-year-old seems to thrive in the atmosphere, with the fans so close to the action. At a career-best No. 16, it appears Kyrgios can pose a serious threat here.Guys with big games, guys that obviously can serve well, I think these courts favour them a lot, he added. I feel comfortable playing here. I think Im returning really good on these courts. Ive always felt comfortable coming here.Kyrgios is Australias last remaining singles hope in New York, after Samantha Stosur was eliminated in the second round -- by her own doubles partner, no less.Chinese revelation Zhang Shuai apologised to Stosur for ousting the 2011 champion 6-3, 6-3 in just 70 minutes. The win continued Zhangs fairy-tale year -- she stormed to the Australian Open quarterfinals after losing her first 14 matches at majors.Before the match, I didnt think I could beat her because she was a champion of the US Open and she has very good serve and very good spinning forehand, said Zhang, who is set to crack the top 50. Its very tough to play her. She beat me in the French Open so this gives me a lot of confidence.Stosur will be hoping that forehand is in better shape -- she committed 30 errors on it -- when she reunites with Zhang on Friday for their second doubles match at Flushing Meadows.Shes my best friend. Its very tough to play against [a] friend, said Zhang. She helped me a lot since I was a low ranking. I feel so sorry for her. Cheap Vans Sk8 Hi Shoes . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Vans Shoes Sale . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/ . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Vans Sk8 Hi Clearance . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Vans Old Skool White . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. PARIS, France -- Is it possible in life to be given too much of a good thing? Does the security guard tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the Mona Lisa day in, day out, long for the opportunity to leave Le Louvre and cast their eye on something a bit more tawdry?Taking in New Zealands clinical 24-19 defeat of France at the Stade de France, it was only natural to ponder whether we have come to take the world champions for granted. Victory was their 21st in their last 22 Test matches, and means that another unbeaten streak is beginning to be built.All of which was achieved with Steve Hansens side rarely out of second gear in attack. It was another committed defensive effort but, in truth, France only had themselves to blame for not breaching the All Blacks try line until the 62nd minute.As in Dublin seven days previously, New Zealand sealed victory despite seeing very little of the ball -- they managed just 38 percent possession in the opening 40 minutes here.Ireland proved recently in both Chicago -- where they ended New Zealands world record winning run -- and Dublin that this All Blacks team will give you chances. Capitalise on those opportunities and they are beatable; pass them up and they will punish you.France will leave the Stade de France clutching onto the positives having created five try-scoring opportunities in the first 30 minutes alone.But crucially it was through their own mistakes that they were undone. Had anyone in dark blue shown an ounce of the composure that comes naturally to those wearing white in Paris, then the scoreline would have been markedly different.However, on too many occasions when the pressure was cranking up on the All Blacks, France responded with a forced pass or a knock on. A scrambled defence suddenly had possession to protect, a booming clearance later and the pressure was released.Part of the credit for that, of course, goes to New Zealands ferocious defence but it is no coincidence that confidence drained from the French players as the try line approached. It is an affliction that fans of Northern Hemisphere sides are well used to when faced by one of the big three from the south.And as Hansen and his pplayers head for home, will any of that matter to them? They might not have had an awful lot of the ball, but when they had it they were clinical.ddddddddddddIndeed, Beauden Barretts drilled kick-pass to Julian Savea for the opening try was almost identical to the one that found Malakai Fekitoa in Ireland last weekend. The main difference being that it was put into action around 40 metres further back, and without the luxury of a stretched defence in opposition. Frances rearguard was limp as Savea passed inside for Israel Dagg to scamper over, having punched themselves out in attack for much of the preceding six minutes.It is not something that you can often say about the All Blacks, and is proof that their composure in those pressure moments is not something that should be taken for granted. In fact it is the very reason they seem so formidable to their opponents.The first try again is a case in point. It may have looked easy from the stands or on TV, but there were several skills that needed to be enacted perfectly. Barretts cross-filed kick is useless if it is an inch or two further left or right, Savea in turn needs to catch the ball, while evading Noa Nakaitaci, and then offload to Dagg in support. Any of those skills could falter, but they didnt.That is the result of hours spent on the training pitch, but it is also the product of having the confidence to try it in a game, and for it all to come off. Time and again.The ability that the All Blacks bring to their game in attack in turn feeds into their aura. France felt the pressure when they entered the New Zealand 22 in part because they knew that their opponents would punish any slip-ups. If the All Blacks enter the pitch with an advantage, it is because every other team in the world knows the speed with which they can turn defence into attack.This might not have been a vintage performance from Hansens side but it was ruthlessly clinical, and that is something that should be applauded. Especially when it is the very thing that their opponents struggle to match. ' ' '
