but I still think there are lessons

WASHINGTON -- Two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia ended her four-year WTA title drought Sunday, beating Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Citi Open. Asked if it felt like so much time had passed since she won a tournament, Kuznetsova smiled broadly and replied: "It feels like its been too long." It was the 14th tournament victory for the 29-year-old Kuznetsova, but her first since she won at San Diego in August 2010. Her collection includes trophies from the 2004 U.S. Open and 2009 French Open. "I work very hard every day, trying to improve things. After you win Slams, not winning tournaments -- its really hard," Kuznetsova said. At 4-all in the final set, with Kuznetsova serving, they played the longest game of the match, with 16 points, five deuces and one break point. "I got a little bit paralyzed and was getting tight, and Im happy I overcame this feeling today," Kuznetsova said. "But definitely, didnt play my best tennis in the end of second and third set." Still, Kuznetsova eventually held to lead 5-4, then broke Nara in the next game to end it. Nara said she "tried (to) focus again" when serving to stay in the match, but Kuznetsova would not allow her to play as aggressively as she wanted. "She hit a very heavy ball, so I cannot go very (easily) into the court," Nara said. Kuznetsova, who was seeded sixth and ranked 26th, had never played in Washingtons hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open. She said that when she was trying to decide whether to enter the Citi Open or the WTA tournament at Stanford, California, the same week, some other players tried to persuade her to skip Washington, saying the citys heat is too tough and that in the past, the tournament didnt have top-level facilities such as the gym or locker room. But she liked that it was on the East Coast and a short flight to Canada for next weeks hard-court tour stop. And, in the end, Kuznetsova left town with a trophy. The unseeded Nara, who was bidding for her second singles title of 2014, also was the runner-up in doubles at the Citi Open. "I like Washington," Nara said. "Hopefully, I (will) come back next hear. I like U.S. hard courts." Connor Randall Jersey .com) - Ryan Johansens creative moves and hometown appeal highlighted Team Folignos successful night at the NHL All- Star Skills Competition. Xherdan Shaqiri Jersey .C. - Brent Sutter scored 1:32 into extra time as the Charlotte Checkers came from behind to defeat the visiting Abbotsford Heat 5-4 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. http://www.liverpoolgear.us/Authentic-Na...verpool-Jersey/. Then again, he really was at his home away from home. "It was nice to sleep in my own bed last night," Shields said after pitching Kansas City past the San Diego Padres 8-0 Wednesday. Rafael Camacho Jersey . JOHNS, N. Adam Lallana Liverpool Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona.Justin Wilson braced himself for what he expected to be a hard hit into the wall at Auto Club Speedway when he lost control of his car in the IndyCar season finale. Confusion set in when the British driver felt a searing pain before he ever reached it. Tristan Vautier, unable to see through the smoke of Wilsons spinning car, had driven directly into the side of Wilsons car. The impact left Wilson with a pelvic fracture and a bruised lung. "I was spinning around, I can see the wall and getting ready to hit the wall, and before I got there, theres this big, big hurt," Wilson said in a telephone interview Monday with The Associated Press. "I thought, I dont understand this. I dont quite get why this hurt so much. Just the initial impact was really painful and felt like the whole car crumpled up." It was only later that Wilson understood what had happened, why he had blood running down his hand from a small cut and what caused the damage to his Dale Coyne Racing Honda. "The whole side of the car, it broke," Wilson said. "The tub was broken, right where the steering wheel is, in line with where the steering wheel is, vertically, all the way down the tub and then the same behind the seat, so that whole section is caved in." Wilson wont be able to put any weight on his right leg for at least six weeks, but was thankful the three pelvic fractures wont require surgery. He was hoping for a Monday release from the California hospital where hes been since Saturday night so he can return home to Colorado, where his wife and two young daughters are awaiting his return. But Wilson, who cycled 100 miles the weekend before the IndyCar finale for fellow racer and actor Patrick Dempseys charitable cause, will have his work cut out for him upon his return. His 5-year-old and 3-year-old girls may have a hard time understanding why their usually active father is now sedentary. "Daddys climbing frame is going to be out of action for a while," the 6-foot-4 Wilson said. "Trying to get them to understand I cant pick them up and I cant really twist in my hips too much is going to be hard. Just the little things you dont even realize. Trying to sit up in bed is so hard; you naturally twist your hips when you dont even think about it. "Its going to be frustrating for about four weeks, and then the pain should be easing up and then I should be getting more and more mobile." Its the second serious accident in two years for Wilson, who broke a bone in his back in 20111.dddddddddddd He missed the final six races of the season and wore a back brace for more than two months as he was restricted from any physical activity. That back brace is very similar to the one Dario Franchitti was wearing in a photo his team released of the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner during his hospital stay after his Oct. 6 crash at Houston. Franchitti fractured two vertebrae and his right ankle and suffered a concussion when his car sailed into a fence on the last lap. Although the final two IndyCar races of the season resulted in two hospitalized drivers, credit has been given to Dallara DW12 that Franchitti and Wilson were not hurt more seriously. Wilson said replays of Franchittis accident reminded him of Jeff Krosnoffs fatal 1996 accident at Toronto. A track volunteer was also killed by debris from Krosnoffs crash; Franchittis wreck sent debris into the grandstands that injured 13 fans and one IndyCar official. "There are definitely things we can learn from this and we are going to be trying to work on and make it better and as safe as we can so we can walk away," Wilson said. "When I saw Darios crash, you naturally think the worst. I think back to Jeff Krosnoffs crash, when strange things like that happen, its just luck whether you go head first or the bottom of the car first. "Im sure Dario doesnt feel lucky, but were all thankful he went in with the bottom of the car first and it stood up pretty well." Wilson is also thankful the tubs where the driver sits in the DW12 were designed to be strong and absorb a hard hit. The new cars were introduced in 2012 and named after the late Dan Wheldon, who did much of the developmental testing for Dallara before his death in the 2011 IndyCar season finale. Although hes not sure the smaller sidepods on the DW12 in comparison to older cars would have made a difference in his injuries, Wilson thinks the series can study his accident. "Fortunately the tub is very strong, but I still think there are lessons we can learn from it," he said. "When another car hits you, that was always the point of the old cars, the big sidepods, on the Champ Cars, the old Indy car, the big sidepods that came past the cockpit, they would crumple. But on this car, we dont really have it. It hit right between. "It would be nice if we had big sidepods again. Im not saying it would have fixed that problem, but I think it would have helped. Im fortunate that the tub is so strong, it stood up to that hit." ' ' '