01-13-2020, 08:05 AM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Serena Williams says she asked for a wildcard into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to combat boredom once she believed her back injury was on the mend. "My back finally started to feel better but it wasnt better in time for me to play Doha at the level Id like to play," said Williams, in a pre-match media interview on Monday. "So then it became more about what can I play next and this was next on the calendar. "It gets boring to have to practice every day. I was like, I dont want to practice anymore. I want to play a match." The American has been sidelined with an aching back since losing a three-set, fourth-round match to Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open last month. The top-seeded Williams isnt just playing singles this week in Dubai. She and sister Venus, who also was given a singles wildcard into the main draw, were granted a wildcard into the doubles as well. "I think its actually going to be good for me to do (play singles and doubles) because it will give me some more match play," Williams said. "I need to get used to the conditions and moving so its definitely helpful." Williams, who received a first round bye, will play the winner of the all-Russian encounter between Alisa Kleybanova and Elena Makarova in the second round. In the doubles, the Williams sisters will face the second-seeded Russian pairing of Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the first round. Willis McGahee Jersey .Y. - Geno Smith still thinks of himself as the New York Jets starting quarterback. Patrick Onwuasor Jersey .com) - NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Buffalo Bills. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom...d.html.The team had a meeting prior to facing Russia at the world junior hockey championship and got the effort theyve been looking for by defeating the Russians 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. Priest Holmes Jersey .J. -- Kyle Palmieri thrilled his personal rooting section with an overtime winner that sent the Anaheim Ducks to their seventh straight win. Ronnie Stanley Jersey . The Mariners ace allowed just one hit over eight innings while striking out nine, and Robinson Cano backed him with a two-run homer as Seattle earned a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.PARIS - Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to leapfrog Marseille and move into first place in the French league after drawing 1-1 at struggling Lille on Wednesday.Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani put two-time defending champion PSG ahead in the 29th minute but a blunder from goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu gifted Lille an equalizer just before halftime.Sirigu came to collect a corner and turned the ball into hiss own net.ddddddddddddThe draw means that PSG remains one point behind Marseille, which drew 1-1 at Lorient on Tuesday night.Saint-Etienne moved up to third place with a 2-0 win at Montpellier, thanks to goals from defenders Florentin Pogba and Paul Baysse.Rennes improved to fourth place after winning 2-1 at Nice, with goals from winger Paul-Georges Ntep and Danish midfielder Anders Konradsen. ' ' '