performances in when it matters, to really show the selectors you have the ability when push comes to shove to soak up the pressure and deliver, Billings said. For the older guys in the squad like m

Only one story crafted in mens tennis this year can compete with the compelling saga Andy Murray authored in the second half of 2016. That was the narrative created by Novak Djokovic. Call it the great unraveling.The final chapters in both tales were written Sunday, when Murray and Djokovic met in the ATP World Tour finals, the first time both participants in the final match of the year would determine the year-end No. 1 ranking. Murray won it 6-3, 6-4.It was a happy ending for Murray and, of course, a doleful one for Djokovic -- for he just hasnt been the same player in the second half of 2016.Tonight, Andy and I were both part of history, Djokovic graciously allowed on court during the trophy presentation. Hes the best player in the world; hes No. 1 and deserves it.?Before the halfway mark in June, Djokovic completed his historic career Grand Slam at the French Open, giving him possession of all four major titles.By that time, Djokovics rankings lead over No. 2 Murray had swollen to about 8,000 points, which is four Grand Slam singles titles worth. But soon thereafter, things went sideways on Djokovic. Just as talk of a calendar-year Grand Slam was beginning to rev up, Djokovic stumbled out of Wimbledon in the third round. He had just one good tournament, at least by the standard he has set for himself, after that.Elements of the great unraveling seem like fodder for a book on life lessons. After his Wimbledon loss, Djokovic alluded to personal problems. Those werent the kind of difficulties that would generate a lot of sympathy from most people, but they did lead to Djokovic doing some serious soul-searching. He spoke about evolving as a human being, but he also began backsliding as a tennis player.The theory, often advanced by Djokovic himself, had been that his life was extremely well-balanced, even as it was dominated by his ambitions in tennis. It had begun to fray. He took losses. They were marked by anxious, impatient or unexpectedly inconsistent play. He didnt win a singles title after the Canada Masters, where a kind draw kicked up nobody more threatening than No. 6 Kei Nishikori in the final.The Summer Olympic Games is where the great unraveling really picked up pace. A fervent Serbian patriot, Djokovic was unlucky to draw Argentinas resurgent Juan Martin del Potro in the first round in Rio de Janeiro. Djokovic wept after he was beaten in two tiebreakers and laid the blame partly on an injured wrist. But that wrist had been able to get him into the two tiebreakers that he lost.Ive just been through so much emotions in the first six months, Djokovic said in his postmatch press conference in Rio, reflecting on the French Open win and a loaded calendar. I needed some time to really take it all in, digest it. But I didnt have that time. I had to a few weeks later be on the court right away. I guess that all had its toll.Through the early fall, it remained difficult to imagine Djokovic in true danger of losing his preeminent place. But even as Murray closed in, Djokovic stuck to his lean schedule, playing just the two Masters events, while Murray piled up the wins. It might have been a strategic mistake.Murray discouraged talk of his chances to earn the No. 1 ranking, until he had it in the bag after winning the Paris Masters. He insisted it wasnt a goal. If he had a window, he frequently said, it might be in the early part of 2017. He kept reminding everyone that Djokovic was the most dangerous indoor hard-court player on earth and the favorite to win the World Tour Finals for an outrageous fifth consecutive time.And though Murray kept winning, Djokovic did nothing. In his spare time, Djokovic brought in Pepe Imaz, a Spanish gurulike apostle of peace and love who had once played in the tennis minor leagues. His influence over Djokovic now is considerable. (In his news conference on Sunday, Djokovic declined to address the future of his coaching relationships with tried-and-true confidants Boris Becker and Marian Vajda.)Still, Murrays prospects were grim. He was a tepid 11-11 at the Tour Finals and had escaped the round-robin stage just twice. (He had never made the final.) All Djokovic had to do was earn one more win than Murray in London, whether in round robin or later, and he would close the season as No. 1.Going into last week, Djokovic led the rivalry 24-10 and had never lost to Murray on indoor hard courts (5-0). As the week unfolded, Murray kept up in the win column, but he struggled through what became two of the three longest three-set matches played on the ATP tour this year -- the longest (3 hours, 38 minutes) the day before the final.Djokovic, meanwhile, lost the first set he played in London, then he crushed everyone and everything in his path through the semis.But against Murray, Djokovics confidence sputtered. The few times it looked like Djokovic might get traction, Murray threw oil under his wheels or Djokovic slid back.Its required from a player to come out on the court in these particular occasions, playing top guys, to come out with his top game, Djokovic said. I wasnt closest to that. There was no serious chance for me to win todays match. From the very beginning, we could see that.Its a strange confession, especially the last sentence. It sounds as if Djokovic was resigned to the outcome long before such pessimism was justified.Cop-out, burnout -- or a little bit of both? Has the great unraveling ended?Djokovic has plenty of time now to digest what happened in 2016, but just how it will sit in his stomach is easy to imagine. Anthony Davis Jersey . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Desmond Mason Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. https://www.cheappelicans.com/115u-alexis-ajinca-jersey-pelicans.html . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Pelicans Jerseys 2021 . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. P. J. Brown Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. England Lions 324 for 8 (Billings 175, Livingstone 64, Bhatti 4-64) beat Pakistan A 268 (Jaahid 103, Babar 55, Wood 3-44) by 56 runs Scorecard Sam Billings treated his home county crowd to the third spectacular century for England Lions in as many matches as they wrapped up the Tri-Series with a 56-run victory over Pakistan A in Canterbury.The Kent wicketkeeper-batsman hit a career-best 175 from only 139 balls with 21 fours and two sixes, an innings that was all the more impressive and important after the Lions had been reduced to 49 for 4 by Bilawal Bhattis excellent new-ball spell.They ended up posting 324 for 8, and despite a fine century in reply from Pakistans opener Jaahid Ali, three more wickets for Mark Wood ensured the Lions would maintain their 100% record and seal the series before their last game against Sri Lanka A on Monday, also at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.Billingss innings meant three of the top four List A scores for the Lions or the England A team that preceded them have been recorded in consecutive matches, following Ben Ducketts unbeaten 163 in the previous match against Pakistan A in Cheltenham last Tuesday, and Dawid Malans new record of 185 not out against Sri Lanka A in Northampton on Thursday.Its all about trying to put performances in when it matters, to really show the selectors you have the ability when push comes to shove to soak up the pressure and deliver, Billings said. For the older guys in the squad like myself, weve got to dominate this cricket, and really put performances in the hat.It was a good crowd for a Lions game, and nice to walk out to bat and get a decent cheer from a home crowd, that does make a difference and make you feel good. Its a special place, a different feeel from the other grounds around the country.ddddddddddddIve been at the club since I was seven, so to get my first Lions 100 here was really nice.Lancashires Liam Livingstone provided excellent support in a restorative fifth-wicket partnership of 135 in only 20 overs, cracking 64 from 60 balls with five fours and two sixes into the building site on one side of the ground.But the local hero continued to entertain an appreciative crowd until he was finally dismissed in the la