The WTA Finals have become a tournament crying out for a heroine after Serena Williams pulled out. After four days, the call has been answered by perhaps the last person anyone might have predicted -- 31-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova.On Wednesday in Singapore, Kuznetsova played the lead role in an epic that rivaled her dramatic three-set win two days earlier against Agnieszka Radwanska. Kuznetsova outlasted US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova in another agonizingly close tug-of-war lasting 2 hours, 17 minutes, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6). Just as importantly, she has so enthralled and energized the crowd, that anyone planning to ask for a ticket refund because of Williams absence probably decided to hang on to those seats.As long as I got here at the last moment, I decided I wouldnt let myself -- or anybody else -- down, Kuznetsova told the on-court interviewer as the crowd unleashed another roar of approval following her last win.Kuznetsova came to these championships like a guest mistakenly showing up at a dinner party to which she wasnt invited, featuring people who arent exactly her crowd. But coming out of nowhere is Kuznetsovas default mode of arrival. Thats how she won singles trophies at the French and US Opens. It also helps explain why Kuznetsova has never been to the the semifinals of the WTA Finals before. Consistency and surprise are incompatible.Beyond that, Kuznetsova has always been something of a misfit on the tour. Her family is athletic royalty in Russia (brother Nikolay was an Olympic silver medalist in cycling), but her talent has always been bundled in a sensitive, introspective sensibility. To some, Kuznetsova is a textbook example of the proverbial soulful Russian, winning major events to take a place among the worlds tennis elite while sustaining a love-hate relationship with the sport.Kuznetsova qualified for these championships with a desperate, late-season push. She was obliged to win the Kremlin Cup (where she was defending champ) during the final week of the regular WTA Tour season in order to displace Johanna Konta at No. 8. Kuznetsova arrived in Singapore the day after she won in Moscow, and barely 24 hours before, she would play her first round-robin match. She was jet-lagged and in a group that included talented, highly touted youngsters Madison Keys, Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza.Whats easily forgotten, though, is that Kuznetsova is one of those people who will always surprise you. When inspiration strikes, she sloughs off the negativity that sometimes haunts her and is nothing less than brilliant. When inspiration strikes, she is capable of anything. That includes taking scissors to her own hair during a changeover, as the Singapore crowd witnessed Monday.Irritated by the way her French braid lashed her eyes and face every time she hit a forehand, Kuznetsova asked the umpire to have scissors delivered and then proceeded to cut off a few inches of her braid. Either she isnt familiar with the biblical tale of Samson, or she just figured its a guy thing.It was bothering me a lot, she told the press later. When I was hitting the forehands, I hit a good shot and it would hit my eyes. I thought, Whats more important? My hair, which can grow, or the match?How do you argue with that logic? Moreover, it was classic Kuznetsova, in that she was at the very end of the line when they handed out vanity.Few imagined that Kuznetsova could rebound from that debilitating, 2-hour, 48-minutes effort against Radwanska. But she produced another gem of consistent ball-striking and unrivaled court coverage. Theres isnt a quicker, more mobile player on the WTA Tour. What a point guard she would make.After Kuznetsova advanced, the emcee asked her where her extraordinary stamina and energy came from. From my heart, she replied. Something changed this year. I enjoy my game, and I enjoy the crowd.Once again, Kuznetsova is showing up where shes least expected. On this occasion, shes certainly welcomed. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. China Jerseys . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. http://www.cheapjerseysyouth.com/ . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Cheap Jerseys .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. ATLANTA -- The?Georgia State Panthers turned to South Carolina assistant Shawn Elliott to turn around a program that hasnt had a winning season since moving up to college footballs top division.Elliott coached the offensive line and served as co-offensive coordinator for the Gamecocks, where he worked the last seven years under Steve Spurrier and current head coach Will Muschamp.Elliott also served as South Carolinas interim head coach in 2015, going 1-5 after Spurrier retired midway through the season.The hiring comes at a critical time for Georgia States program, which has struggled to make its mark on the crowded Atlanta sports scene.The Panthers are moving to Turner Field next season, taking over the stadium that served as the?Braves?baseball home for the last 20?years. Georgia State plans to downsize it into a 23,000-seat football stadium, providing a much more intimate atmosphere that the 70,000-seat Georgia Dome.But the Panthers have rarely drawn even 10,000 to a game since launching their program in 2010. They went 6-5 as an FCS school their debut season, but have not had a winning record since. Georgia State is 10-39 since joining the SSun Belt Conference in 2013.ddddddddddddWe set out to find a head coach who will energize our program and assemble a coaching staff that will recruit the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia with zeal. Shawn Elliott is the perfect coach to do just that, athletic director Charlie Cobb said.Before his tenure with the Gamecocks, Elliott served 13 seasons as an assistant coach at Appalachian State, his alma mater. A native of Camden, South Carolina, he was an integral part of three consecutive NCAA FCS titles from 2005-07 as well as the Mountaineers historic upset at Michigan in 2007.Elliott replaces Trent Miles, who was fired with two games to go in his fourth season. Miles had a record of 9-38 with the Panthers, though he did lead them to their first bowl appearance in 2015. Tim Lappano served as interim coach the final two games.Coach Elliott is a leader and a winner, Cobb said, and we look forward to introducing him to the Panther family and getting started on a very exciting 2017 year for Georgia State football. 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