Despite everything that Serena Williams has won and done, her sense of self can still fluctuate based on the outcome of a particular match.Doesnt always seem to matter that she owns a record-tying 22 major singles titles heading into the U.S. Open, which begins Monday with a retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time.Not necessarily a big deal to her that shes spent the past 3+ years entrenched at No. 1 and is the oldest woman ever to top the WTA rankings.And there are times when the 34-year-old American basically forgets that she transcends her sport and has become a cultural icon away from the tennis court.Williams is devastated when she is dealt a setback, such as last years Did that really happen?! loss to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals, ending an attention-grabbing, pressure-piling bid for the first calendar-year Grand Slam by anyone in more than a quarter-century. Williams acknowledges she measures herself constantly.Unfortunately, I definitely do, which I dont think is normal. I definitely feel like when I lose, I dont feel as good about myself, she said.But then I have to, like, remind myself that: `You are Serena Williams! You know? Like, `Are you kidding me? Williams continued, laughing and leaning forward. And its those moments that I have to just, like, come off and be like, `Serena, do you know what youve done? Who you are? What you continue to do, not only in tennis, (but also) off the court? Like, youre awesome. That really just shows the human side of me. Im not a robot.She is at the stage of her career where history is in the offing nearly every time a racket is in her right hand. So while the stakes are different from what they were at Flushing Meadows in 2015, Williams does have something significant to play for yet again.After equaling Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam titles in the professional era (which dates to 1968) by winning Wimbledon last month, Williams now can break that tie by earning No. 23 in New York. Only Margaret Court owns more major singles trophies, with 24, but more than half of that total came against amateur competition.Not that Williams was immediately ready to think about topping Graf after pulling even with her at the All England Club.One thing I learned about last year is to enjoy the moment, Williams said. Im definitely going to enjoy this.Good thing, too, because not everything has gone smoothly since that most recent triumph. Slowed by a bothersome right shoulder, Williams lost in the third round of singles and first round of doubles at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics -- she was a 2012 gold medalist in both events -- and then pulled out of a hard-court tuneup event in Ohio.Williams is assured of remaining at No. 1 until the end of the U.S. Open, which will bring her current streak to 186 weeks in a row, tying another mark held by Graf. Depending on what happens in the tournament, Williams could be overtaken in the rankings by No. 2 Angelique Kerber (who beat Williams in the Australian Open final in January), No. 3 Garbine Muguruza (who beat Williams in the French Open final in June) or No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska.Its definitely intriguing, Roger Federer said about tracking the women vying for No. 1. Its nice to see this race.Federer, who won five of his mens record 17 Grand Slam titles in New York, will be sitting out the U.S. Open for the first time since 1999 as he takes the rest of the season off to let his left knee heal. A year ago, Federer lost in the final at Flushing Meadows to Novak Djokovic. In Federers mind, the top-ranked Djokovic is the favorite this time, even though No. 2 Andy Murrays summer has been phenomenal.One reason: Federer thinks the installation of the new $150 million roof at the main arena will limit the wind even when its open, which will help Djokovic.Not too long ago, Djokovic appeared to be close to unbeatable no matter the surface or conditions, and a buzz was building about whether he could chase a true Grand Slam. But he exited Wimbledon in the third round, then the Olympics in the first round, while Murray won both of those titles.Novak, obviously, the last two years, really, has played amazing tennis. His consistency -- what Ive done for, like, the last four months, hes been doing for, like, the whole year, Murray said. So I need to try and keep that going, and the U.S. Open is always the next big goal.---AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen contributed to this report.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichMel Blount Steelers Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Dermontti Dawson Womens Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Terry-Bradshaw-Jersey/ . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Terrell Edmunds Youth Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. James Conner Jersey .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals.CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians seemed as if they were in for an easy night after scoring six runs in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins. Not so fast. The Indians needed every bit of their early advantage and survived a harrowing ninth inning for an 8-7 win and their fourth straight victory. "We kind of had to hang on for dear life, but we did," manager Terry Francona said. "We go home happy." Cleveland led 8-3 after five, but Minnesota scored four times in the final three innings. Vinnie Pestano, subbing as closer for the injured Chris Perez, allowed two runs in the ninth, including Chris Parmelees second homer of the game that cut the lead to one. Pestano struck out pinch-hitter Josh Willingham on a 3-2 pitch with the tying run on first for his third save. "We won the game," Pestano said. "Thats the bottom line. If I go out there and give up five runs and we win by one, we win by one." For most of the night, it didnt look like such dramatics would be necessary. Michael Bourn had three hits and three RBIs and Corey Kluber won his third consecutive start. Cleveland took advantage of five first-inning walks to score six runs. Jason Kipnis added three hits to pace the Indians, who are 8-2 since losing eight in a row. Minnesota starter P.J. Walters (2-3) walked five of the nine batters he faced, hit one and didnt get through the first inning when Cleveland had only two hits. Kipnis and Bourn both had two-run singles while Jason Giambi and Drew Stubbs drew bases-loaded walks. Kluber (6-4) gave up three runs in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander has allowed four earned runs in 21 2-3 innings in his last three starts. "I wasnt as sharp as Id like to be, but there are games when you go out there and hopefully get through it and give your team a chance to win," he said. Kluber ended the Indians eight-game slide when he held Texas to one run in eight innings on June 11. He followed that with eight shutout innings against Washington on June 16. Kluber, who threw 100 pitches Saturday, gave up eight hits, struck out four and walked one. It appeared the game was under control when he was pulled but the Indians needed five relievers to finish the game. "There were some highs and lows," Francona said of his bullpens performance. "Fortunately, the highs won out." Minnesota scored in the seventh and Parmelee homered to lead off the eighth, making it an 8-5 game. The Twins had the tying run at the plate with one out but Rich Hill struck out Mauer and Ryan Doumit. Justin Morneau doubled to begin the ninth and scored on Oswaldo Arcias ground ball for the second out of the inning.dddddddddddd Pestano walked Brian Dozier before finally striking out Winninhgam on his 34th pitch of the inning. "That was a really long inning," Francona said. "Anytime you get up near 30 pitches, thats a long inning." Mauer hit a two-run homer in the first for Minnesota, which has homered in seven straight games. Arcia added a solo shot in the fourth. Walters problems began when he walked Bourn and hit Mike Aviles to start the first. Kipnis double into the left corner tied the score. After Michael Brantley flied out, Carlos Santana and Mark Reynolds walked to load the bases. Walters then walked Giambi, who was batting .180, to force in a run. Lonnie Chisenhall flied out but a walk to Stubbs made it 4-2 and ended Walters night. Bourn greeted Anthony Swarzak with single to centre and Cleveland led 6-2. Walters threw 46 pitches, only 18 of which were strikes in two-thirds of an inning. He failed to pitch into the sixth inning for the first time in six starts this season. "Walters just didnt have it tonight," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It was just a bad night. He couldnt find anything. Hopefully, we wont see that again from him." Stubbs and Bourn added RBI singles in the fifth off Ryan Pressly. Kipnis, who singled, doubled and tripled, is batting .379 (25-for-66) in 19 games in June. Trevor Plouffe added an RBI single for the Twins in the seventh. Minnesota came to town riding a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox but lost to the Indians 5-1 on Friday. The Twins are 13-7 against Cleveland since June 2, 2012. Indians first baseman Nick Swisher, who has missed six games with a sore left shoulder, will probably return for Sundays series finale or Monday when the Indians open a series in Baltimore. Swisher, who is in a 6-for-55 slump, took batting practice Saturday. NOTES: Perez (strained right rotator cuff) will throw a simulated game Sunday at Double-A Akron. He will make another minor league rehab appearance next week. ... Francona said RHP Zach McAllister (sprained middle finger) will play catch at 120 feet in the next couple of days. Theres no timetable for when McAllister will throw off the mound. ... Twins OF Austin Hicks (left hamstring strain) could start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. He has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 10. ... Twins OF Wilkin Ramirez (concussion) played five innings Friday for Single-A Fort Myers. He has been on the 7-day DL since May 26. ... The teams wrap up their three-game series Sunday. Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey (3-6) takes on RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-2). ' ' '