game at the start, and they paid for it. Just 29

Melbourne, Australia (SportsNetwork.com) - Maria Sharapova survived, and in more ways than one on Thursday at the Australian Open. Sharapova, the 2008 champion and this years third seed, outlasted Italys Karin Knapp 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 in a 3 1/2-hour marathon second-round match that was played in sweltering heat before the roof was closed at Rod Laver Arena. "Im really happy to get through," said Sharapova. "I really am. I worked really hard in the last few months and I wanted this match. I didnt play my best tennis. I didnt do many things well. I got through it, and sometimes thats whats important." Also getting through to the third round were Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwanska, but in much easier fashion. Azarenka, the two-time defending champion and second seed, claimed a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, while the fifth-seeded Radwanska notched a 6-0, 7-5 win over Olga Govortsova. Sharapova and Knapp opened play Thursday at Laver Arena and the decision to close the roof and halt action on the outer courts because of oppressive heat was made during the match. Rules, therefore, stipulated that the match conclude before the roof could be closed. The two gutted it out through a 108-degree temperature with high humidity. Knapp had Sharapova on the ropes in the third set, holding an 8-7 lead, but the Russians experience came through down the stretch. After holding serve for 8-8, Sharapova broke Knapp to go on top before the four-time Grand Slam champ closed out the contest on her serve. It wasnt easy, however, as Sharapova gave Knapp three points with double-faults in the 18th game before finally prevailing on her fourth match point when Knapp missed on a backhand. "I was up a set and a break and I had many opportunities to finish the match faster," noted Sharapova. "So I would have loved for it to finish faster, but thats what I got and I have to deal with the circumstances. Im all right with that. Im a competitor here, and I worked hard to get through that match. I will have to work just as hard to get through the next ones." Next up for Sharapova, who was an Aussie Open runner-up in 2007 and 2012, will be 25th-seeded Alize Cornet of France after she earned a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 decision over Italys Camila Giorgi. Azarenka, who beat Sharapova for the 2012 title, opened the night session and played under the roof at Laver Arena. She had little trouble in a 34-minute first set, but struggled to polish off Zahlavova Strycova, needing nearly an hour to win the second set. "There was just a moment when I just felt I dropped my intensity a little bit and was watching her a little bit too much," said Azarenka about the second set. "Im glad I could just turn it around in the end and really get back into it and play the way I was playing in the first set." Azarenka will encounter Austrian Yvonne Meusburger in the round of 32. Radwanska had a similar match on Thursday, winning 25 of the 34 points played in a 24-minute first set. Govortsova made the four-time Aussie Open quarterfinalist work in the second set before ultimately falling. "I started really well today," said Radwanska, who also was able to play indoors at Hisense Arena. "I think then she tried to play more aggressive in the second set and I think I did step backwards, unfortunately. Suddenly I was a break down. But just very happy that I could manage to win that second set and finish the match." Next for Radwanska will be Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Luxembourgs Mandy Minella. Former world No. 1s Jelena Jankovic and Caroline Wozniacki also advanced, as did American Sloane Stephens. The eighth-seeded Jankovic thumped Japans Ayumi Morita 6-2, 6-0, while the 10th-seeded Wozniacki went the distance in a 6-0, 1-6, 6-2 triumph over American Christina McHale. Stephens, seeded 13th this year after her surprising semifinal run last year, rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Croatias Ajla Tomljanovic. Up next for Jankovic will be Japans Kurumi Nara, who took out 32nd-seeded Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4, 6-3, while Wozniacki will next play Spains Garbine Muguruza, a 6-3, 6-3 victor over Slovakias Anna Schmiedlova, and Stephens will next face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Australias Olivia Rogowska. The hot Muguruza is fresh off her first-ever WTA title in Hobart last week. Eleventh-seeded Romanian Simona Halep bounced back from a slow start against American Varvara Lepchenko to claim a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win, setting up a third- round matchup with Kazakhstans Zarina Diyas, who downed New Zealands Marina Erakovic by a 6-4, 6-0 margin. Carla Suarez Navarro needed a late rally to fend off Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan, as the 16th-seeded Spaniard secured her place in the next round with a 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 8-6 victory. Slovakias Dominika Cibulkova, the 20th seed, awaits Suarez Navarro in the third round after cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Swiss Stefanie Voegele, and the aforementioned Meusburger dismissed 33rd-seeded Serb Bojana Jovanovski 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The excessive heat forced play on the outer courts to be suspended for a few hours and rain also delayed play. The third round will commence Friday, including matches for five-time champion Serena Williams and two-time Aussie Open runner-up Li Na. The world No. 1 and reigning U.S. and French Open champion Williams will face 31st-seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, while the fourth-seeded Li will battle 26th-seded Czech Lucie Safarova. Li lost to Azarenka in last years Melbourne finale. Also on Friday, last weeks Sydney runner-up, ninth-seeded German Angelique Kerber, will meet upstart American Alison Riske and 14th-seeded former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic will tangle with 17th-seeded former U.S. Open champ and heavy Aussie crowd favorite Sam Stosur. The former French Open winner Ivanovic was an Aussie Open runner-up to Sharapova in 2008. Jim Thome Jersey . On Sunday, hell attempt to become the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide race on Iowas short track. The 20-year-old Blaney wont be the only kid pushing a podium finish. Joe Carter Jersey .That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-larry-doby-jersey/ .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season. Cleveland Indians Jerseys . Ibrahimovic put PSG ahead when he got in front of his marker to neatly flick in Lucass cross in the 59th minute. New signing Yohan Cabaye came on as a second-half substitute and headed Ezequiel Lavezzis cross against the post in the 87th. Moments later, Lucas set up another goal from the right when fellow countryman Alex turned in his corner with a strikers finish. Custom Cleveland Indians Jerseys .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams.NEW YORK -- Ryan McDonagh scored off a rebound of Dan Girardis shot 1:56 into overtime to complete the New York Rangers surprising rally in a 4-3 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday night. McDonagh put the puck past backup goalie Thomas Greiss, who relieved injured starter Mike Smith in the third period and then gave up the tying and winning goals. Girardi got the Rangers even with 3:26 left in regulation when he tipped in a drive by his defence partner McDonagh. Brad Richards and Derick Brassard scored in the second period when New York erased a 2-0 deficit Phoenix built in the first. Henrik Lundqvist made 18 saves to win on a night he was honoured for recently breaking Rangers marks for career victories and shutouts. The Rangers fourth straight win pushed them one point ahead of Philadelphia and into second place in the Metropolitan Division with nine games left. Philadelphia, which has two games in hand on the Rangers, will meet them in New York on Wednesday. Kyle Chipchura had a rare goal and assist, and defenceman Oilver Ekman-Larsson and Jeff Halpern also scored for the Coyotes, who hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Chipchura, who entered with only two goals and 11 assists in 69 games, helped set up Halperns goal and then was credited with the go-ahead tally when Rangers forward Chris Kreider knocked the puck into his own net. Smith stopped 25 shots while making his 12th consecutive start, but was forced to leave with 7:34 left in regulation after he injured his right leg when Brassard was pushed into him by Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris. Greiss came on for his first action since Feb. 28 and stopped seven of nine shots. The Rangers needed two big rallies to keep their winning streak alive. After being ushered off the ice by a chorus of boos following a poor first, the Rangers got Maddison Square Garden rocking in the second, but Phoenix went back in front before the second intermission.dddddddddddd. Richards cut the Coyotes lead in half at 6:10 when a drive by Carl Hagelin found its way through traffic, hit him, and bounded between Smiths pads for Richards 17th goal and first in 11 games. The Rangers tied it with 9:07 left off hard work by Brassard. Brassard bumped with Chipchura in the neutral zone to get the puck into the Phoenix end, and then netted his 17th. Brassards pass attempt in front bounced back to him in the right circle, and he sent a rising shot into the top right corner to make it 2-2. The Rangers were nowhere near the top of their game at the start, and they paid for it. Just 29 seconds after Rick Nash was sent off for tripping, Ekman-Larsson scored his 13th of the season with a stick-bending wrist shot from the right circle at 4:40. Smith, who stopped 10 shots in the first period, earned his third assist of the season. Lundqvist kept Phoenix at bay for a bit, but he was hung out to dry by his teammates when Halpern made it 2-0 on the Coyotes fifth shot. Chipchura made a backhanded pass from below the goal line in front to a wide-open Halpern for a quick shot past Lundqvist at 8:22 for his fifth goal. It appeared the Rangers would be no worse than tied going into the third, but Kreider deflected an attempted centring pass by Chipchura from the left-wing boards between Lundqvists legs to make it 3-2 with 1:09 left in the second. Lundqvist angrily swept the puck out of the net as Chipchura celebrated his third goal of the season and first in 57 games, dating to Oct. 29 vs. Los Angeles. NOTES: Rangers D John Moore missed his second consecutive game because of concussion symptoms. ... Coyotes LW Lauri Korpikoski sat out due to an upper-body injury. .. Chipchura has 21 goals and 52 assists in his NHL career. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '