Hilfestellungen » .The Australian hopes to get that out of his system

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Monica Puig is trying to accomplish something no one from her country has ever done. Angelique Kerber is seeking to achieve the sort of thing shes already done this year.They play each other Saturday for the Olympic gold medal in womens tennis. Puerto Ricos Puig, ranked 34th in the world, is the upstart in every way. Kerber, the Australian Open champion, is starting to look very comfortable in the role of favorite.The 22-year-old Puig will become just the ninth athlete from Puerto Rico to win an Olympic medal in any sport -- and if she beats a Grand Slam champion for the third time in four matches, she will be the islands first gold medalist.Her underdog run to the final comes amid the economic crisis devastating the U.S. territory, which fields its own Olympic team. Puig is deeply aware of what her triumphs mean.This Olympics isnt about me. Its about Puerto Rico, and I know how bad they want this, she said. The island is full of such bad news all the time so every time ... somebody from the island wins a medal, everything stops. I know how happy everybody gets.Puig was so happy Friday after her back-and-forth 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova that her celebratory leap probably got enough hang time to earn points in the Olympic trampoline final. She dropped the first three games against the far more seasoned Czech, whos seeded 11th. Unfazed, Puig rallied to win the set, then regrouped again after taking just one game in the second.Puig, who also upset French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in Rio de Janeiro, has never even been to a quarterfinal at a major. The 28-year-old Kerber has made two Grand Slam title matches in this breakthrough year.The one in Melbourne in January was the first of her career, and the German lefty stunned Serena Williams in three sets for the championship. Then Kerber built on that success with her run at Wimbledon, where she lost to a nearly flawless Williams. She has a chance to overtake Williams for the No. 1 ranking this year.I have a lot more confidence than last year because I won one of the biggest tournaments, Kerber said, and also because I had a lot of experience from past years.That showed against 21-year-old American Madison Keys in Fridays second semifinal. Kerber saved all 10 break points she faced in a 6-3, 7-5 victory.She stepped up her game every time I had an opportunity, said the seventh-seeded Keys, who faces Kvitova on Saturday for bronze.In the mens semifinals Saturday, 2012 gold medalist Andy Murray will play Kei Nishikori and 2008 champion Rafael Nadal will meet Juan Martin del Potro.When Williams was upset in the third round of the womens tournament, the second-seeded Kerber became the favorite. Shes looked the part, yet to drop a set through five rounds.Shes really found her game, Keys said. Shes at the top right now. Ryan Kalil Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Carolina Panthers Jerseys . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-jordan-scarlett-panthers-jersey/ . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Christian Miller Youth Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. DJ Moore Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. World No. 1 Jason Day hopes a return to sunny weather -- and the scene of past glory -- can help him put his Open disappointment aside.Day failed to make an impression on the leaders at Royal Troon last week and eventually finished tied 22nd on one over par, 21 shots behind winner Henrik Stenson.The Australian hopes to get that out of his system at the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey this week, an event he won last year before following up with his first major title at the US PGA Championship.Those two events come back to back this year, with the PGA taking place at Baltusrol next week, and Day is looking forward to the chance to relive past success -- away from the wind and rain of Scotland.The 28-year-old said: Ive got Canada now. Im pumped to get back to some 90-degree weather, dont have to wear three or four layers every day.The fans are fantastic. Im looking forward to playing Glen Abbey, its a beautiful golf course, really fun to play. Then obviously the PGA is the first time Ive ever defended a major championship.So Ill try to soak up the experience of what that entails with regards to the start of the week, but once Thursdday comes around you have to go out there and execute and play good.ddddddddddddIm excited about that but also excited to defend Canada as well.Dustin Johnson, the world No. 2, will also be in action in Oakville, Ontario after a quiet outing at the Open. The U.S. Open champion had been the pre-tournament favourite in South Ayrshire but finished 18 shots behind Stenson in a tie for ninth.Johnson said: It was just okay. I felt like I hung in there pretty well and hit a lot of good shots but just struggled on the greens.Im looking forward to getting back to some warm weather and playing on some fast greens. I think its a golf course where if I drive it well, Im going to play pretty well.Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Open runner-up Phil Mickelson are among the leading players sitting out the event as they focus on Baltusrol preparations. Graeme McDowell, who has ground to make up in the race for Ryder Cup places, and Matthew Fitzpatrick are among the British entrants. ' ' '