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If Angelique Kerber is the type of thoughtful person who still writes thank-you notes, she probably has one in the mail right now to Serena Williams. Cheap China Jerseys .Williams, the No. 2-ranked woman tennis player in the world (it still seems strange to read that, right?), basically handed No. 1 Kerber the year-end No. 1 ranking for 2016 when Williams declared that she was pulling out of the critical tournaments in Wuhan and Beijing.The decision torpedoed the scenario that both the ATP and WTA dreamed about when they created their tours and year-end championships: a battle for the top ranking that goes down to the wire, long after the last ball in Grand Slam tournament play is called out.I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder, Williams said in a statement published on the WTA website last Friday. I have been practicing and playing but my shoulder is still not fit for tournament play. ... I am focused on getting ready to compete at the WTA Finals in Singapore.Problem: Kerber already leads Williams in the rankings by more points than the challenger could earn by winning Singapore. True, Kerber will be defending 1,215 points she earned last fall, but keep in mind she didnt win a single title and had a terrible WTA championships, which means there is a more than likely chance she will build on her lead over Williams.Williams obviously feels no need to put the Kerber genie back in the bottle. Williams has her own priorities, which clearly do not include finishing the year ranked No. 1. That might explain why she declared the subject off limits as Kerber closed on the top spot through the summer. It might not be as baffling a position as it appears. Williams shares the record (men and women) for more Grand Slam titles (22) in the Open era with Steffi Graf. Those two also hold the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 (186).Williams is 35 and shes been No. 1 for 309 cumulative weeks (good for No. 3 on the all-time list headed by Graf, then Martina Navratilova). Williams has been the year-end No. 1 five times. Adding another year to that count doesnt seem nearly as succulent a goal as bagging another major to surpass Graf.Finishing No. 1 for 2016 certainly wouldnt be worth the price if it left her unfit for the new year.Williams abdication might be disappointing, but theres evidence that shes offering delayed gratification in the form of a big, new push in 2017. In what might have been a rare moment of transparency last week, she told CNN, Im tired of playing tournaments unhealthy and taking losses that I would never lose.If Williams already has vengeful eyes riveted on 2017, Singapore becomes more of a question mark. Williams played no tennis after the US Open last year but nevertheless went on to reach the Australian Open final. Would she spurn the WTA Championships for two years in a row? Williams might be obliged to show up, but she cant be forced to train hard or arrive ready to play at full capacity. We wont be able to take the true measure of Williams until next January.Its almost impossible to see Williams going into the Australian Open as the No. 1 seed. She will be seen through different eyes in the locker room. She will know a different form of pressure at a time in her career when she seems to forget far too often how she became dominant. Williams might be great theater these days, but some still prefer the lethal, steely-eyed player who once struck fear in the heart of every opponent without a single shriek, clenched fist or shout of, Come on!After Australia, Williams went on to reach the French Open final and won Wimbledon. She closed out the season with a surprising semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova. That setback reminded us that in many ways, Williams has become a suffering champion, which has brought her unprecedented attention.Now she must prove the rumors of her latest demise have been greatly exaggerated and that she has one last run in her. Call it: Serenas Last Stand. China Jerseys Online . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. China Jerseys Review . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. https://www.chinajerseysreview.com/ . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Melbourne City are full of confidence coming into Saturday nights A-League derby with Melbourne Victory, insisting theyll win if they bring their A-Game.The in-your-face pressing City gameplan has won plenty of fans this season, lifting John van t Schips side to second on the table and helping them lift the FFA Cup.Its why the Dutchman and Socceroo star Tim Cahill insist the City style is enough to beat any side in the league - including Victory.After all, its proved enough in the two derbies in the last two months.Weve had two good results and this of course this gives the team confidence, van t Schip said on Friday.There are no guarantees for this game. It all starts over again.But if we play our game, we have a good chance to get a good result. So thats what were going to do.Thats our idea. Thats why we have this philosophy of having the ball. Trying to play. Trying to be on top of the opponent. We believe in that.The City game was also key in Cahills pre-match thoughts, as aired by Archie Thompson on SEN radio.I was speaking to Timmy and he said if they turn up and play the way they can play, theyll win, he said.If they dont turn up, theyll draw. Thats the confidence that City have.Cahill is no certainty to start the match, restricted to less than 15 minutes of play since the FFA Cup success.Van t Schip said Bruce Kamau was fit to pplay after being rested from last weeks 1-1 draw with Sydney FC. Wholesale China Jerseys. While City exude belief, so too do Victory.Kevin Muscats side have won five of their last seven games - more than any other club - and the title-winning coach said he took a hell of a lot of confidence into the clash.Asked whether the last two derby defeats played on his mind, Muscat was blunt.I dont think about it, he deadpanned.I dont look back.In terms of league table theres only three points available but in terms of everything else, theres a lot more on the line.Muscat also said that Marco Rojas had done all that has been asked of him this week after missing their last-out 3-0 defeat of Western Sydney with a hamstring issue.Weve got some options in that area, he said.Do we wait and unleash him while people are fatigued or do we start him off? Well analyse and make a decision.While Rojas and goalscoring record-chasing Besart Berisha will challenge City, another danger is they fall into big-game fatigue.City have battled league leaders Sydney FC twice - once to win the FFA Cup - as well as rivals Brisbane in the last 17 days and now face arch-enemies Victory.Van t Schip said that was not a possibility.The more big games the better. ' ' '