Inland Waterways » a pulsating manner

Charleston, SC - Former runner-up Lucie Safarova and 15th- seeded American Madison Keys were a pair of opening-round winners, while 10th- seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko was sent packing Monday at the Family Circle Cup tennis event. The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year. Making her 2014 season debut, the former world No. 5 Kirilenko succumbed to Swiss qualifier Belinda Bencic 6-1, 7-5. Kirilenko had been sidelined since the end of last season because of a knee injury. The 19-year-old Keys, meanwhile, advanced by sneaking past Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (7-3). In other action involving Americans, Lauren Davis leveled German Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-1, 6-4; Russian Alla Kudryavtseva dismissed Christina McHale 6-3, 7-5; South African Chanelle Scheepers overcame Alison Riske 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; and Czech Petra Cetkovska topped Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 2-6, 6-0. Davis will face former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in the second round. Also advancing on Day 1 were Frances Virginie Razzano, Brazils Teliana Pereira, Kazakhstans Yaroslava Shvedova, Croat Ajla Tomljanovic, and Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens. Serena Williams has won the last two titles and is a three-time Charleston champ. The world No. 1 star topped the 2007 titlist Jankovic in last years finale. Last weeks Miami champion Williams and Jankovic are this weeks top seeds. Vincent Lecavalier Jersey . -- The top-seeded Alberta Pandas set up of an all-Canada West final against arch rival UBC at the CIS womens volleyball championship after a 3-0 win over the No. Steven Stamkos Jersey . After all, the No. 8 seed is chasing far loftier goals. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., defeated American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in Wimbledons second round on Thursday. http://www.hockeylightning.com/ .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. Nikita Kucherov Jersey . Vinci also beat Dulgheru last week in Bucharest en route to her first WTA final in a year. Vinci next faces sixth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan, who beat Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-2. No. Custom Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys .Y. - His opponent couldnt stop him, and LeBron James didnt quite know what to think when his coach tried.Novak Djokovic twice came from behind to defeat Rafael Nadal in straight sets in their Rome Masters quarter-final. A 7-5 7-6 (7-4) win means the world No 1 will now advance into Saturdays semi-finals where he will play sixth seed Kei Nishikori who beat Dominic Thiem 6-3 7-5, while Andy Murray will face lucky loser Lucas Pouille.Nadal had his chances to end a six-match losing streak against Djokovic but wasted a break advantage in the first set, then missed five set-point chances in the second. Novak Djokovics set point in the opener was majestic... Djokovic recovered from a break down to secure the opener in dramatic fashion. Nadal initially went 4-2 up against the serve, largely thanks to a drop shot that found a home three times in the early stages.Mid-way through the set, Djokovic began finding his rhythm and threatened with some trademark returns from the back of the court. He held a 10-minute game to remain 3-4 down before more excellent work from the back of the court earned Djokovic a break of his own.Djokovic led 6-5 heading into the final game but defeated Nadals serve in a pulsating manner.ddddddddddddAnother Nadal drop shot had him on course for 6-6, but Djokovic converted his fourth set point by winning an astonishing rally. Novak Djokovic lost his cool and threw his racket Nadal then crucially failed to convert five set points to force a decider. Leading 5-4 in the second set having broken Djokovics first service game, Nadal continued to put himself on the brink but could not cross the line.Djokovic saved all five set points and remarkably broke back before winning a thrilling tie-break 7-4 in a memorable demonstration of grit and athleticism from both players.Current Rome Masters champion Djokovic now has a 26-23 head-to-head record against Nadal.Watch the Rome semi-finals on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 1.30pm. Also See: As it happened Murray into Rome semis Tennis on Sky Get a NOW TV pass ' ' '