He said the play was his fault

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STANFORD, Calif. Cheapest Nike Basketball Shoes . - Venus Williams feels like the hometown girl when she plays at Stanford even though she grew up in Southern California and currently resides in Florida. She has enjoyed a lot of success here, made her professional debut at the event, and the crowd was clearly supporting her. "Its nice to have that support," Williams said after advancing to the Bank of the West quarterfinals Thursday night, beating fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-6 (1). "It was good to hear the oohs and aahs for both of us," the unseeded Williams said. "I dont want to let anybody down. This year has been a lot more relaxing than Southern California." Williams and Azarenka, both former world No. 1s, are working their way back to high level tennis following injuries and illness. Williams, who is 4-0 against the Belarusian, appears slightly ahead in her development. "Its always great to get a win against a player like Victoria, who is a champion," Williams said. "We played a high level and it got better as the match went on." After the 10th-ranked Azarenka, who celebrated her 25th birthday, saved three match points to tie it 6-6, Williams won the first five points in the tiebreaker. "The tiebreaker felt great," Williams said. "It brought out my best tennis. I needed the challenge." Azarenkas second serve was the biggest difference between the hard-hitting players. She won just 32 per cent of her second serves, handing Williams a significant advantage. "We both had good points," Azarenka said. "Venus was a little better on her execution on important points. I have to be realistic and look at the things that have to be done. Its not easy being patient but if I wanted easy, Id go sit on a couch." Despite losing, Azarenka was glad to be playing tennis on her birthday. "Losing is never satisfying," she said. "But I left the best part of my day on the court. I was able to do something I love on my birthday." Williams, who reached her third quarterfinal of the season, will face eighth-seeded Andrea Petkovic on Friday. Williams, in her 12th career appearance at Stanford, reached her 10th quarterfinal. She has won twice and finished second five times. Azarenka won the event in 2010 and has been eliminated in the second round in her last two appearances. "I was moving well and it was a good start," Azarenka said. "I know there is work to be done and that is what I want to do." Fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic also advanced, beating qualifier Carol Zhao 6-1, 6-1. The 11th-ranked Serb, looking for her fourth title of the year, will face top-ranked Serena Williams on Friday. "It will be a tough challenge but a good test to see where I need to work," Ivanovic said. "Its a different part of the season and a different kind of tournament." Ivanovic will move into the top 10 next week for the first time in five years. "I cant think too much about the future," Ivanovic said. "I am looking to turn it around at the U.S. Open. After the match today I went back out on the court to get the rhythm back on my serve. Thats what I need to be doing." Zhao, a sophomore All-America at Stanford, appeared in her second WTA Tour event and gained her first career win at the level Tuesday when Yanina Wickmeyer retired because of a viral infection. Ivanovic, a former No. 1, had three aces and won 75 per cent of her first-serve points. In other matches, third-seeded Angelique Kerber beat Coco Vandeweghe, 7-6 (4), 0-6, 6-2, and Garbine Muguruza topped Daniela Hantuchova, 6-4, 6-4. Yeezy 350 Store . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux. Stan Smith Store . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs have trade offers on the table for the 26-year-old, but none have been deemed acceptable by the team. http://www.cheapestairmaxstore.com/fake-...cheap.html . 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.TORONTO -- James Reimer began to wonder if the Toronto Maple Leafs could hold on and shut out the Washington Capitals. It didnt matter that they were being drastically outshot. When Alex Ovechkin scored late in the third period, Reimer tried to keep the negative thoughts from getting to him. "You kind of tell em to screw off and just keep focus on the puck," Reimer said. "You cant focus on the bad things or the negative things. All you can do is make that next save." Reimer did that again and again as the Leafs gave up 50 shots but beat the Capitals 2-1 in a shootout Saturday night at Air Canada Centre. James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul scored in the shootout to give Toronto (14-8-1) its third victory in four games. Being outshot and winning has become a familiar refrain for the Leafs, but this one was about quality over quantity as far as what Reimer faced. "Honestly it was more of them just throwing pucks at the net from everywhere," said Reimer, who made 49 saves and then stopped three of four in the shootout. "Our team did a great job of keeping the shots to the outside, and I just tried my best to control them. When I left some out there, obviously they were there to back me up." Reimer naturally watched the shots pile up. Leafs coach Randy Carlyle pointed to back-to-back Washington power plays in the second period as the time the shot differential became so lopsided, but even considering that his team was out-shot 40-26 at even strength. The 50 shots were a season high for the Capitals (12-10-2), as well as a season-high allowed by the Leafs. "I think any time you get outshot, you look at it," said winger David Clarkson, who scored Torontos only goal of the night on the power play in the second period. "But there was also a lot of good things we were doing. Theres always things you can improve on, theres things you can get better at. But the big thing is finding a way to win, and right now were doing that." It doesnt mean the Leafs were proud to be outshot 50-28, despite keeping so many of the Capitals attempts to the outside. "Regardless of the quality of the shots, were never going to tell you that we want to give up 50," said defenceman Mark Fraser, who returned to the lineup after missing two games with an aggravated knee injury. "Thats probably a few too many for us to be happy with. But it was just nice that we could keep it off the scoreboard. Obviously Reims had a lot to do with that." Reimer was in the zone, something defenceman Morgan Rielly said the 19,473 fans in the building could all notice. Carlyle was satisfied that his goaltender kept the Leafs in the game as Braden Holtby (27 saves) was brilliant at the other end. "When you get into situations like tonight it was one where we needed the save and he continued to make them," Carlyle said of Reimer. "Its a credit to him." Reimer might just be starting to get the credit he deserves for his play this season. With his performance against the Capitals, he raised his save percentage to an NHL-best .947. Even in the glow of an emotional shootout win that included stops on all-stars Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Reimer wasnt making too much of the save-percentage accomplishment. "Obviously I believe in my ability and in my skill," Reimer said. "I try and work hard every day to be the best I can. Fake Air Max 90 For Sale. Stats are stats. I think you could arguably say that (Henrik) Lundqvist was the best goalie in the league, and I dont know where he is in save-percentage stats. "It means something but it doesnt mean everything, thats for sure. Its cool to be up there, but at the same time the most important thing is playing the best for your teammates. So whether thats a .915 save or a .940 -- whatever gets the job done." Reimer and the Leafs got the job done for much of the night against Ovechkin, who was held to three shots before tying the score at one at the 15:50 mark of the third period. On his fourth shot, Washingtons captain fired a bouncing puck past Reimer for his league-leading 20th goal of the year. "Lucky bounce, puck kind of stop and I have opportunity to shoot it and it goes in," said Ovechkin, who became just the third active player to put up at least 20 goals in each of his first nine NHL seasons. Capitals coach Adam Oates didnt believe the Leafs did anything "extra well" to shut down Ovechkin. He and Ovechkin expected the match-up with Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf. It was on the penalty kill that the Leafs zeroed in on stopping Ovechkin. Carlyle said they changed their structure to take away Ovechkins shot, and it worked as the Capitals went 0 for 3 on the power play. "On power play they put me in one position, they take me away but we dont use it," Ovechkin said. "Its blame on us of course." No one was really to blame for a fluke injury to ex-Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski late in the second when he suffered two cuts on the right side of his face after was sliced by Clarksons skate while falling to the ice. Grabovski was booed by the crowd for laying on the ice after getting cut and skating off quickly following a whistle, but there was a copious amount of blood coming from his face that fans did not see. Grabovski needed 20 stitches but returned to the game early in the third. He said the play was his fault because he held on to the puck too long. Ovechkin called Grabovski a "warrior" for returning. His coach agreed. "Pretty scary play, actually," Oates said. "He came back, and he played a great game." It was Grabovskis first game back in Toronto since the Leafs bought him out over the summer. He had two shots in 16:18 of ice time. In his 18:38, Clarkson had a far bigger influence on the game. His second goal of the season was a perfect redirection of defenceman Jake Gardiners point shot on the power play, and he did his job of getting under the skin of Capitals players all night. Offensively, he was buzzing alongside linemates Lupul and Nazem Kadri well before scoring on the power play. Clarkson wondered as he had for the previous five or six games if hed be rewarded. "When youre getting chances as a player or as a line or as a team its bound to finally go in for you," he said. "Biggest thing is us winning. Whether you score or not, it doesnt matter whos putting it in the net, when you win thats all that matters." NOTES - Toronto defenceman Paul Ranger was made a healthy scratch as Fraser returned to the lineup. Ranger had played all 22 games going in and had one goal, five assists and a plus-4 rating. ... Martin Erat was scratched for Washington in favour of Eric Fehr, who took the penalty that set up Clarksons goal. ' ' '