Talk » ias Astra advanced with the Italian c

Andy Murrays rise to the top of the rankings this fall has been a surprising tale containing numerous improbable elements. So its hardly shocking to discover that in his own eyes, not playing has had as much to do with Murrays spectacular results as his exploits on the court.Ive managed my rest and recovery periods much better, Murray told ESPNs Darren Cahill on Friday, following Murrays tidy, 6-4, 6-2 win against Stan Wawrinka in the final round of round-robin play in the ATP World Tour Finals. In the past, after a tournament or a loss, I would get right back out there on the court to play, or to practice.Its different now. After Murray won the Paris Masters 1000, he explained he resisted the impulse to pick up a racket for four days during the week before the World Tour Finals. He also laid aside his sticks for a week after he won the Shanghai Masters. It could not have been an easy decision for Murray to take, because he owes a great deal of his success to his work ethic.Murray has a well-earned reputation as a workaholic. If youve known anyone like that, you know how much comfort they take in the sheer act of working. How secure it makes them feel. But what if the work isnt paying off, or its become just a hedge against feeling inadequate?Changing his work habits could not have been an easy decision for Murray to make. But he took the plunge. The successful result is further proof of Murrays reputation as a man who has left no stone unturned in his quest for greatness. In having the confidence and poise to try that somewhat counter-intuitive change, the 29-year-old Scot set himself up to equal the best winning streak of his career (22 matches) with this win over Wawrinka. More importantly, Murray positioned himself for a showdown with Novak Djokovic this weekend for the year-end No. 1 ranking.I feel good, Murray said, despite a season workload that has produced a 76-9 singles record and eight titles. Obviously, Ive played a lot, but my body is just conditioned to matches.Murrays mind is similarly steeled to the task at hand. It can be dispiriting to be frowned upon by the gods of the draw while a rival seems to get a path to a semi or final as slick as a luge run. This week, the seemingly smooth ride was offered to Djokovic, whose cumulative record against the three other men in his round-robin portion was a perfect 23-0.That might have been especially discouraging for Murray, because of his already mediocre record at the O2 Arena coming in. Despite having nine previous chances to crack the World Tour Finals code, he was just 11-11 -- and never a finalist. His own draw this year was brutal: Murray was 27-12 against Marin Cilic, Kei Nishikori and Wawrinka.But Murray did more than survive; he flourished. He made a powerful statement in locking down the three Ws in round-robin play this year, because hes also been forced to march in lockstep with Djokovic all the way. Whoever does better in this tournament will take that grand prize, the top ranking.Murrays win against Wawrinka was deft, swift and critical. He accomplished it in 1 hour, 25 minutes, avoiding the kind of knockdown, drag-out battle he survived with Nishikori in the second round. It means Murray, who unlike Djokovic will not get a day off before the semifinals, ought to recover more easily and have sufficient spring in his legs.Murray is entitled to feel like hes gotten over the hump, even though his job is far from finished. He seems to have come to grips with the pressure he faces from his fellow British countrymen annually at the O2 arena. He also has a right to feel hes got the upper hand on his three potential rivals, starting with Saturdays semifinal opponent, Milos Raonic.If Murrays success makes Djokovic slightly uneasy or makes him wish he were better prepared for the semifinals, its an earned bonus.Murray was a juggernaut entering this event, and he remains one just two matches from its conclusion. On Friday, Murray broke a string during the first point of the final game. He played on, hitting three slice backhands, a lob and a slice approach before Wawrinka ended the point with a passing-shot winner. Its almost unheard of for a player to construct such a point through so many shots with a racket thats essentially unraveling in his hand.But thats the kind of year Murray has had, and its difficult not to read the incident as an omen. Cheap Air Max 270 .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Fake Nike Air Max Replica . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. https://www.wholesalenikeairmaxshoes.com/ . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. Discount Nike Air Max Wholesale . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Cheap Nike Air Max Outlet . 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. ODESSA, Ukraine -- Manchester United won for the first time in 10 away games in Europe and advanced to the Europa League knockout stage by defeating Zorya Luhansk 2-0 on Thursday.Another defeat and a Feyenoord win in the other Group A match, and United would have been eliminated.But midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryans first goal for United to begin the second half ended the teams frustration, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic came through at the end for his seventh goal in his last six matches.The first goal was magnificent, Ibrahimovic said on MUTV. He came in speed and had control all the way. Then the timing to put between the legs was beautiful. He killed the game by scoring.United was second in the group to Fenerbahce, which beat Feyenoord 1-0 courtesy of a Moussa Sow bicycle-kick goal.A group of around 200 United fans heading to the stadium were pelted with bottles and stones by local fans. Police prevented fighting.In another incident, some Ukrainian fans also tried to attack United supporters in the stadium, The Associated Press witnessed. This follows major trouble two nights ago in the capital of Ukraine around the Dynamo Live-Besiktas match.SOUTHAMPTON 1, HAPOEL BEER-SHEVA 1Southampton was eliminated in its maiden Europa League campaign.The sides drew 0-0 in Israel and were tied for second in Group K.Maor Buzaglos goal in the 79th minute made the difference for Hapoel to advance. Virgil Van Dijks equalizer in stoppage time was not enough for Southampton.OTHER ACTIONIn Group G, Celta Vigo progressed with a 2-0 win at Panathinaikos. Striker John Guidetti headed in the opener four minutes into the game, and Fabian Orellana doubled the lead in the second half from the spot.AZ Alkmaar qualified from second place in Group D after beating group winner Zenit St. Petersburg 3-2. Ben Rienstra, Ridgeciano Haps, and Muamer Tankoviic scored for the Dutch side.ddddddddddddGiuliano pulled one back for Zenit, and Stijn Wuytens own goal settled the score.A 0-0 home draw with Group E winner Roma meant Romanias Astra advanced with the Italian club.Saint-Etienne came from two goals down to beat Anderlecht 3-2 and claim Group C, after both had qualified.Fiorentina moved into the knockout stage from the first place in Group J after beating Azerbaijans Qarabag 2-1.Matias Vecinos first goal of the season put Fiorentina 1-0 up an hour in, and substitute forward Reynaldo leveled in the 73rd. But three minutes later, Federico Chiesa netted the winner.PAOK finished second in the group after a 2-0 win over Slovan Liberec.Newcomer Osmanlispor made the round of 32 by beating Zurich 2-0 and finishing top of Group L.Spanish side Villarreal was also through after beating Steaua 2-1, trailing Turkeys Osmanlispor by one point.Group H winner Shakhtar Donetsk completed its perfect group stage record with a 4-2 away victory at Braga. Captain Taison and defender Serhiy Kryvtsov had two goals each.KAA Gent advanced with a 1-0 win at last place Konyaspor.QUALIFIED BEFOREThirteen other clubs made the knockout stage in the previous rounds. Four sides qualified with two matches to spare: Four-time European Cup winner Ajax, St. Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk and Schalke. The qualifiers after five matches were Roma, Anderlecht, APOEL, Athletic Bilbao, Genk, Krasnodar, Olympiakos, Saint-Etienne, and Sparta Prague.Eight other teams who played in the Champions League and finished third in their groups secured a consolation spot in the Europa League: Besiktas, Copenhagen, Legia Warsaw, Ludogorets, Lyon, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Rostov, and Tottenham. ' ' '