Probleme » His 13-year, $124 million contract with the Capitals runs th

BEIJING, China - Serena Williams narrowly avoided a bagel against Spanish qualifier Silvia Soler-Espinosa, then won 13 of the next 15 games to pull out a 7-5, 6-2 victory Monday in the first round of the China Open.Williams looked lethargic and flat-footed at the start, pushing the ball back without much pace or direction and occasionally shanking groundstrokes several feet out. After only 15 minutes, she had already dropped serve three times and fallen behind 5-0.Just as quickly as she gave up such a big lead, however, Williams turned it around. In the next game, the 18-time major winner saved a set point and broke Soler-Espinosa to finally get on the board.I didnt want to lose 6-love, Williams said. I just started fighting. I was like, just let me at least try to break here.Soler-Espinosa had another set point on Williams serve in the following game, but the American saved it with a cross-court backhand winner at the net and cruised the rest of the way.Williams routinely doles out the bagels in matches, but shes rarely on the receiving end of one. The last player to win a 6-0 set against her was another Spaniard, Anabel Medina Garrigues, in Madrid last year. Williams came back to win that match, too, 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.After the match, Williams said she hadnt been sure shed be healthy enough to play in Beijing after pulling out of a match against Alize Cornet with dizziness and nausea last week at the Wuhan Open.I just started hitting a couple days ago, taking it day by day. Finally I decided Im here, I may as well see what happens, Williams said. Im feeling a lot better. I have more energy. I look back. Like my eyes arent as dead as they were.It was the latest health issue to sidetrack Williams this year. She also pulled out of a Wimbledon doubles match after looking completely out of sorts in her warm-up and hitting four straight double-faults in the match. She later blamed a viral illness.On the mens side, U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic struggled with his consistency against Chinese wild-card entry Bai Yan, ranked 462nd in the world, but held on to win 6-3, 6-4.Cilic said hes still getting used to the feeling of being a Grand Slam champion and dealing with all the pressure and attention that brings.Most of the guys at the top are dealing with that already for a few years. Its a bit new thing for me, so Im learning day to day, he said. Most important for myself is also not to put too many expectations on my own shoulders.Fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria also advanced with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Fernando Verdasco of Spain.Other womens winners included ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who took advantage of eight double-faults by Belinda Bencic to beat the Swiss teenager 6-2, 6-1, and U.S. Open semifinalist Peng Shuai of China, who defeated Zhang Kailin 6-4, 6-1.In the only upset of the day, 10th-seeded Jelena Jankovic lost to Cornet 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.Fourteen-time major winner Rafael Nadal also returned to the court for the first time since injuring his wrist in July to play a doubles match. He and partner Pablo Andujar lost to Tomas Berdych and John Isner 7-5, 4-6, 10-4.Nadal will play his opening singles match on Tuesday against Richard Gasquet, while top-seeded Novak Djokovic, who has a 19-0 record in Beijing, faces Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain. NFL Jerseys Cheap . 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Wholesale Basketball Jerseys . - A pitch clock will be used this season during minor league games at Triple-A and Double-A, but it has been ruled out for the major leagues this year.ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkins balancing act between the Washington Capitals and the Olympics in Russia could get a whirlwind test in a few weeks. Russia would like to have Ovechkin carry the torch after it is lit in Greece on Sept. 29. That would be a tight fit -- because its only two days before the Capitals open the regular season at Chicago. "We just have to find a plane," Ovechkin said Tuesday. Ovechkin said his agent is working with the organizers of the Sochi Games to figure out the logistics. He joked he could "take some medicine" to sleep while flies back and forth across the Atlantic. It helps that the Capitals arent scheduled to practice on Sept. 29, but hell want to be back in time join his teammates on the ice the next day for their final skate before travelling to Chicago. "Its a huge honour for me," Ovechkin said. "Im very proud the Russian federation asked me to do that. ... Its only a once in your life opportunity to carry the torch and represent your country." The Sochi Olympics have stoked a passion in Ovechkin -- he has said he would have played in them even if the NHL hadnt worked out a deal to interrupt the season -- but he was diplomatic about his dual goals as he reunited with his Capitals teammates ahead of Thursdays opening of training camp. He wants to win the first Olympic title for Russian players since a "Unified Team" of former Soviet republics took gold in Albertville in 1992, and he wants to win a Stanley Cup with Washington after several seasons after early-round flameouts in the playoffs. Ovechkin said the Olympics are "huge," but hhe stressed that the Capitals are important as well.dddddddddddd As far as trying to peak for both events -- Olympics in February and NHL playoffs starting in April -- he said hell have to be smart and listen to his coaches and trainer. Theres been speculation whether Ovechkin would return to Russia for good to play for Dynamo Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League. Countryman Ilya Kovalchuk stunned the NHL in July when he left $77 million on his New Jersey Devils contract to go to the KHL. Ovechkin would make a similar financial hit: His 13-year, $124 million contract with the Capitals runs through 2021. "The answer is, like, Im here, I have a contract," Ovechkin said. "It was very enjoyable to hear president of Dynamo and GM wants me to sign, and be honest with you, I love Dynamo, its my first team and I play (there) when it was (NHL) lockout. But I have a contract. So I have to play here and I respect my teammates, I respect my fans, and all that kind of stuff. Thats about it." Ovechkin said hes recovered from the hairline fracture in his left foot, suffered when he blocked a shot in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Rangers. He played in Game 7 the next night and represented Russia for one game at the world championship before the injury was diagnosed. Hes also looking forward to a full season under Capitals coach Adam Oates, who rallied the club to a playoff berth after a horrific start in a lockout-shortened campaign. "Last year we have only like a half-season," Ovechkin said. "And you could see the success we have at the end." ' ' '