Allgemeines » Some of them might not get the opportunity ag

LONDON -- Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori tend to linger when they get together. Their latest matchup set a record.Murray survived the longest three-set match in ATP Finals history when he prevailed against Nishikori 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.They needed 3 hours, 20 minutes, to separate themselves. The first set alone took 85 minutes.Murray, 2-0 in his group, can clinch a semifinal berth for the first time in four years with a win over U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka on Friday.Wawrinka eliminated Marin Cilic from contention 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in an almost two-hour-long late match.Losing to No. 5-ranked Nishikori would have hurt Murrays chances of holding off Novak Djokovic to keep the No. 1 ranking.Murray relieved Djokovic of the top ranking last week, and Murray believed it would be a fitting end to the year to play the Serb for the ranking and ATP Finals title on Sunday in the final.For the tournament and stuff, for everyone interested in tennis, that would probably be the perfect way to finish the year, Murray said.For me and, Im sure, for Novak, both of our goals would be to try to win the event. It doesnt change for us as players.Murray admitted he abused himself on court more than usual while trying to figure out how to overcome Nishikori.He could have won in two sets, for sure, Murray said.He moves the ball around extremely well, better than anyone maybe. It was physically tough. I wasnt able to dictate many of the points, it felt. More so in the third set I was able to. But not in the first couple of sets. I was having to run, fight, get as many balls back as I could.I feel OK right now. Its normally the next day when you feel stiff and sore, but theres hopefully three days left in the season, and Ill give my best to get through as many matches as I can.For all of Murrays achievements this year, this was the first time he played a top-five opponent since June, when he lost to Djokovic in the French Open final.Nishikori was one of only three players to beat him in the intervening five months, edging a five-setter in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. They also went five sets and almost five hours in the Davis Cup in March.Nishikori extended their first set on Wednesday when he saved a set point at 6-5 down, but he needed four set points to take the opener on a wide forehand by Murray.Murray immediately broke to start the second. Nishikori tied it at 4-4. But Murray broke straight back, and had to save two set points to force a decider.Murray has played more matches than ever this season and he looked drained, but Nishikoris decision-making was clouded by fatigue, and he lost his serve in the third game.When a double fault made it 4-1 to Murray, the Scot finally had some breathing space and the end in sight.Nishikori showed commendable resolve to retrieve one break, but Murray served out at the second time of asking for his 21st successive win.Murray has a chance to match his best streak of 22, from June to August, when he plays Wawrinka on Friday to end group action.Wawrinka saved one set point in the first set, and dominated the tiebreaker. Cilic broke to open the second, but Wawrinka got him back and served too good in the tiebreaker again for his 11th win in 13 matchups with Cilic. Cheap Steelers Jerseys . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Custom Steelers Jerseys . 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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Padraig Harrington has been a staunch supporter of Olympic golf, and on the eve of the 72-hole mens tournament, he opined that a number of high-profile players who elected to skip the event will rue their decision.The players who are here couldnt be more positive and couldnt be enjoying it more, Harrington said Wednesday at the Olympic Golf Course, where golf returns Thursday after a 112-year absence. I sense, as well, the players at home are pretty quiet on social media. You sense that maybe some of them would like to be here. Certainly I think some of them would definitely like to be here and they are missing out.Theres no doubt they are missing out, thats for sure. You just dont know where this game is going to lead and where they will be in four years time or eight years time or whether golf will be in the Olympics in eight years time.I cant say its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because were obviously in the 2020 Games, but it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people.The run-up to golfs return to the Olympics was filled with negativity; no sport saw more withdrawals among its players.The top four in the world -- Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy -- all elected to skip the Games. Other big names such as Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Graeme McDowell also elected to stay home.Harrington, 45, got a spot when McIlroy, Shane Lowry and McDowell all elected not to play for Ireland. And hhe was thrilled at the prospect, having taken a role in pitching golf to the International Olympic Committee when it was being considered in 2009.ddddddddddddBack then, Harrington was ranked seventh in the world; he is now 128th.I absolutely thought I would be here, he said. But thats the nature of sport, when youre at the top of your game, you dont believe its ever going to change. You think its going to last forever. Hindsight says thats not true.It would be interesting about the athletes who turned down coming here this time. Some of them might not get the opportunity again. Youd be surprised how it does change. For me, clearly this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I feel good about my golf and where Im at with my golf, logically, will I get another chance in 2020?So this is an awfully big deal that Ive got an opportunity, and Im keen to take it.Harringtons wife and two sons made the journey to Rio, and they plan to stay next week to take in other Olympic sports.All the golfers here, everybody here is loving it, he said. I dont think Ive seen as much interaction between the players. Like at a major, there wouldnt be interaction between the players at all. Everybody is really going about their business. Here were going about our business, but everybody is talking about what they have seen and whats been happening and what they went to. ' ' '