and then further down the board in 40th place last year. "Im startin

SINGAPORE - After Serena Williams embarrassing defeat to Simona Halep in the WTA Finals group stage, the American narrowed her eyes at the post-match news conference and said she was looking forward to having a chance to avenge the loss.She didnt have to wait long. The pair will face off again on Sunday in the final of the season-ending championships after winning their semifinals on Saturday in contrasting fashion.Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki in a thrilling contest 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) to remain on course for a third-straight title, while Halep swept aside Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2 to put herself in a position for the biggest title of her career.Halep beat Williams 6-0, 6-2 in the group stage, inflicting the Americans heaviest loss in 16 years, and the 18-time Grand Slam winner joked about her diminished expectations for the re-match.My goal is to win three games, Williams said. Im going to go from there. Hopefully I can hold serve — that would be good. Most of all, I hope to break once.Halep has been the form player of the tournament, dropping only 27 games across four matches against top-eight-ranked opponents, and the Romanian was justifiably confident entering Sundays final.I have to believe in my chances against her, the French Open finalist said. I can think that I have the game to beat her.I will be nervous because its the final, but I cant wait for tomorrow because my dream came true, so I have to do everything I can to win.The irony of Sundays final is that Williams only qualified for the semis because Halep lost in three sets rather than two in her final group match against Ana Ivanovic. Had the already-qualified Halep eased off and lost in straight sets, Williams would have been packing her bags.The Americans hopes of reaching the final looked just as tenuous throughout Saturdays clash with Wozniacki.The Danish player served for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but Williams broke back and prevailed in the tiebreaker on her third match point after trailing 4-1.It was a bittersweet win for Williams, who has developed a close off-court friendship with Wozniacki. The pair attended a Mariah Carey concert together on the eve of their semifinal.It was the first match I didnt feel great — if you take (sister) Venus out of the equation — where I wasnt happy after I won, Williams said.I really wanted to cry because Caro is so nice. We get along and we do so much together. Shes like my little baby sister, from a different mother, and father, and different country.Wozniacki reciprocated the affection, but being on the wrong end of a 10-1 head-to-head record meant she understandably wanted to see less of the world No. 1.I told Serena Can you just leave me alone? I love you, but stay away from the other side of the court. Quite frankly Im sick of losing to you, Wozniacki said.Twice before this year Williams had to come back from a set down to beat the Dane and she again made a slow start, taking only three points off Wozniackis serve in the opening set and the frustration showed. After the seventh game, she repeatedly smashed her racket into the court, bringing a warning from the chair umpire.I dont know how many times I hit it but, boy, that racket will never do me wrong again I tell you, Williams said. It was definitely legendary. I kind of lost my cool a little bit.Wozniacki, who had a perfect 3-0 record in the group stage, took the opening set in 26 minutes and held serve to open the second.I really thought she was going to win because she was playing so well, Williams said. She had a whole new strategy. I finally was able to kind of figure it out in the second and then I just was able to play better.It clicked today. I thought Ha! I got you now.The momentum had shifted and, three games later, Williams created her first break points of the match, converting to take a grip on the set, which ended on Wozniackis double fault.The third set went on serve until the ninth game when Wozniacki made the first break. She served for the match but was only able to save one of two set points.Williams survived a break point on her serve to go up 6-5. Wozniacki then held serve under intense pressure in the 12th game, saving one match point in a dramatic rally.She started the tiebreaker confidently, but the relentless Williams wore her down with powerful serves and groundstrokes.Being so close and still losing, it really (stinks), Wozniacki said. It was just small things, but that is why champions are champions. All of them step up when it matters. Wholesale Air Max 98 China . Mohamed Diame put West Ham ahead in the 47th minute before goals by substitutes Carlton Cole and Joe Cole condemned Fulham to a fifth straight defeat, keeping the visitors in the bottom three. Air Max 98 Outlet . The Maple Leafs may not have had a pick until the third round, but they have made the biggest move of the second day of the Draft, dealing defenceman Carl Gunnarsson and a fourth-round pick in the draft to the St. http://www.airmax98outlet.com/ .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. Air Max 98 Cheap China . -- Dee Ford prefers to keep things simple: Play hard and fast, and let others worry about his NFL draft stock. Air Max 98 Cheap .com) - Eric Fehrs goal 42 seconds into overtime lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Columbus, halting the Blue Jackets seven-game win streak.VIRGINIA WATER, England -- Thomas Bjorn birdied seven of his last eight holes Saturday to grab a five-shot lead after the third round of the BMW PGA Championship. The 43-year old Dane fought back from a double bogey on the first hole by making six straight birdies from the 11th and then adding another one at the last for a 5-under 67. His 15-under total of 201 put him five shots clear of Luke Donald at the European Tours flagship event at Wentworth. Donald, a two-time former BMW PGA winner, birdied his closing two holes for a 68. Irelands Shane Lowry shared the overnight lead with Bjorn but shot a 73 to sit another shot back in third. Rory McIlroy was in a tie for fourth after a 69, seven shots behind Bjorn. Bjorn is competing in the event for the 17th time, but publicly disagreed with changes to the famed Surrey course in 2010 and skipped the event the following year. He returned in in 2012 to finish 37th and then further down the board in 40th place last year. "Im starting to warm to this place," Bjorrn said.dddddddddddd "But after the double at the first it was just a question of trying to hang in and trying to get the best out of it and just see if you can roll in a few putts here and there. That happened, and probably a bit in excess on the back nine." A win would earn Bjorn one of the biggest prize cheques of his career US$1.059 million, and would also cement his place in Septembers European Ryder Cup team and a first appearance in 12 years since being a member of the victorious 2002 team. The start of play was delayed by three hours because of a rain-soaked course that saw a lot of players struggle early. McIlroy also had a double bogey on the first hole, before recovering with five birdies the rest of the way. And the double major winner hasnt given up hope of catching Bjorn. "Ive had big leads and let them slip, and come from behind and won, so theres a lot of ways to win," McIlroy said. "There is still 18 holes of golf to go, but Im going to need something very special." ' ' '