The Daily Sentinel from Grand Junction, Colorado • 14

4B The Daily Sentinel Saturday, June 28, 2014 Sports Rec joodbye hard Djokovic overcomes fall, injury scare FAMILY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS during his Wimbledon match his left shoulder pop, he was OK. Li double-faulted on match point after the point was replayed when she won a challenge on a forehand that had been called out. Joining Kvitova and Zahlavova Strycova in the fourth round were two other Czechs, Lucie Safarova and Tereza Smitkova the first time in the Open era four Czech women have reached the final 16 at a Grand Slam. Kvitova beat Williams for the fourth time in five matches. All have gone to three sets.

Williams and Kvitova play similar games and they put on a Centre Court show of brutal power tennis. There were only three break points, and two breaks, the entire match. Williams came within two points of winning at 5-4 in the second set, with Kvitova serving at 15-30, but couldn't put her away. Now 34, and slowed in recent years by an energy-sapping autoimmune disease, Williams made a strong showing at this tournament and again dismissed any talk of retirement. "People have been trying to retire me since I was like 25," she said.

"I'm not getting out of here. I'm finding my way back on my feet. I'm proud of myself for what I'm achieving on the court." With seven major titles in her career, Williams hasn't given up on winning more. "I want to win Grand Slams," she said. "Everybody does.

No one gives it to you. They snatch it away and say, "That's what I'll have to do, is snatch it, say, too, growl if need be." By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON Novak Djokovic lay crumpled on Centre Court, clutching his upper left arm and grimacing. He felt something pop and feared the worst. Djokovic had lunged for a shot behind the baseline, tumbled on the grass and rolled over twice, his racket flying from his hand. His new coach, Boris Becker, stood in the player's box and looked on gravely.

Slowly, Djokovic rose from the turf, still holding his arm across his chest and made his way to his chair. "When I stood up, I felt that click or pop, whatever you call it," he said later. "I feared maybe it might be a dislocated shoulder or something like that." It wasn't. After a medical timeout and treatment from a trainer, the top-seeded Djokovic needed only four more games to complete a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over France's Gilles Simon on Friday, sending him into the fourth round and keeping alive his bid for a second Wimbledon title and seventh Grand Slam championship. "Luckily there is nothing damaged," Djokovic said.

"I just came from the doctor's office, ultrasound. It's all looking good. I'm quite confident that it will not affect my physical state or regimen or daily routine. I think it's going to be fine." Djokovic has two days off before an intriguing matchup Monday against another Frenchman, the free-swinging 14th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. "They told me usually in these kind of particular cases you might feel soreness in the Novak Djokovic hits the ground Friday against Gilles Simon.

Despite hearing next couple of days," Djokovic said. "But I can play around with practices and recovery and see how it goes. But I'm quite confident it's going to be all right for next one." He felt all right enough to joke that he had talked to Becker about improving his style. "We obviously need to work on my diving volleys, learning how to fall down on the court," he said. "I'm not very skillful in that." Djokovic's injury scare came on a day that also featured the elimination of second-seeded woman Li Na and a three-set, 2 y2 -hour Centre Court battle between two former female champions with 2011 winner Petra Kvitova overcoming five-time champ Venus Williams 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5.

Defending men's champion Andy Murray, who hasn't dropped a set this week, extended his winning streak at the All England Club to 16 matches by something unique and different," Elliott said. "With this new format, kids that would never play in a tennis tournament are now playing. Usually if a kid plays in a tournament and loses their first (match), they go to the consolation and then maybe are done after that. Here, they get a lot more tennis in. It's sort of a concept that every game counts." Aaron Gossage, a Grand Junction High School senior and longtime tournament participant, said the new format Continued from page IB tion.

When Shannon Sneddon's parents traveled to Arizona in the spring to see their granddaughter Jenni at college, they also made another stop. Dom Nunez, who stayed with the Sneddons during the 2013 season and returned again this season, was playing a spring training game, so naturally, as any grandparents would, they went to watch him. "(We bring them into the family) big time," Sneddon said. When Shannon and Mike Sneddon made the decision to be a host family, they talked it over with their kids, especially Jenni, because they knew she would be home the most. Now, Shannon laughs about Jenni's relationship with the players, specifically Nunez, because it couldn't be more typical of a brother and sister.

"If you could see Jenni and Dom, those two bicker like brother and sister all the time, but yet they hang out all the time, they watch movies all the time," Sneddon said. "The way me and Jenni talk to each other is brother and sister, dead on, just like how I treat my own sister," Nunez said. "We mess around with each other, but in the end I know she will always be there for me, and I know I'll always be there for her." The family has hosted six total players over the past three years: Miguel De Leon, Kyle Roliard and Matt Crocker the first year; Nunez and Raimel Tapia last season; and Kevin Padlo and Nunez this season. The Sneddons have remained close with many of the players and their families, from Roliard, RAIMEL TAPIA who talks to them every month, to Nunez's mom, who texts Shannon during the offseason. Their goal is to bring these players into their family for life.

"They just took me in like I was one of their own kids, with open arms," Nunez said. "Their house is a great house, and their kids just treat me like one of He isn't sure how his game will carry over to the NBA. "We will see next season," he said. "I will do my best to prepare." Injuries and roster upheaval last season were factors in the Nuggets missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. Danilo Gallinari missed all of the 2013-14 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament after leading the team in scoring the previous year.

Denver also lost Robinson and Hickson to similar knee injuries during the year. McGee beating Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The streak goes back to his gold-medal run at the 2012 London Olympics, which was played at Wimbledon. No. 6 Tomas Berdych, runner-up at Wimbledon four years ago, became the highest-seeded man to go out so far when he fell to No.

26 Marin Cilic 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in match that finished in near darkness at 9:36 p.m. Berdych, who had called for play to be suspended because of the fading light, hit a forehand long on the second match point. Cilic finished with 20 aces. Li, the Australian Open champion, feU 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) to 43rd-ranked Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic in the first major upset of the tournament. Since winning her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne in January, Li has lost in the first round of the French Open and now failed to reach the second week at Wimbledon.

encourages players to play their best each match. "I like how every game counts as a point because it makes you play for every game," he said. The tournament is coed because of the low number of female participants. Out of 52 players, only 13 are girls, making separate boys and girls divisions impractical. Elliott said the low number of girls reflects the same pattern he sees in the Mesa County Junior Tennis league.

He hopes to increase participation in the TEAM: Players like how new format makes each match count Continued from page IB sented by the name of a professional tennis player. The Nadal Division features the best teams in the high school age group. The Djokovic Division is the second-level high school division, and the Federer Division is made up of middle school players. There are five teams in the Nadal Division this year, five in the Djokovic and three in the Federer. "We wanted a change of pace, MONDAY 16 OGDEN RAPTORS 7:00 PM www.gjrockies.com their own." The Sneddons have never had any issues with the players they've hosted.

But, although Shannon KYLE ROLIARD Sneddon wouldn't describe it as a problem, language is occasionally a challenge. "Definitely there is a language barrier with some because we do get a large handful of Dominican kids," she said. "The Rockies are great because they have an English class for them, and the kids truly try to learn English. They do great." The Sneddons also do their part to help those who aren't fluent in English learn the language. Sneddon said they use translating apps on their phones whenever necessary, and the language barrier has no negative effects on relationships with the players.

"Tapia is probably the weakest English speaker," Sneddon said. A recent trip to Arizona for a Colorado Rockies spring training game, and a meet-up with Tapia served as proof that sharing a language isn't necessary to form a bond. "I just (called his name), and his head just snapped to find me and (give me) a hug," she said with a smile. The only real problem with being a host family comes at the end of each season. "It's terrible.

I cry every year. Jenni cries every year," Shannon Sneddon said. "We have had some host families consider not hosting because they get so attached, which is a great problem to have." The Sneddons hate saying goodbye, but they know it isn't forever. If any of the players they've hosted make it to the majors, the Sneddons will be there to watch, without hesitation. "(Having the Sneddons there) will mean just as much as my family being there when I first get to the big leagues," Nunez said.

"It's a great feeling to know that you have people supporting you that care enough for you to go and enjoy that moment with you. Looking up into the stands and being able to see that will bring chills to me." until age 14 played only four games because of a broken shin. All four are expected to return, giving Shaw plenty of options in his second year running the team. "If we want to play small we can put Ty and Nate out there with any combination of guys," he said. "Jusuf, as big as he is, he's pretty agile for a big guy and he's very, very physical.

It gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of styles we play. Not only do we have size, we have speed, we have athleticism." BLANK: Errors aid Chukars Continued from page IB the sixth. He, too, was caught trying to steal second. Wes Jones walked in the eighth but was erased on an inning-ending double play. It was the first time the Rockies were shut out this season.

Idaho Falls (5-7) scored one run in the second inning off Craig Schlitter (0-1), who pitched into the fourth inning, allowing four runs on five hits. Three errors in the fourth inning helped the Chukars take control of the game, and they added two runs in the fifth and single runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Taylor Black relieved Schlitter and allowed three runs in two innings. Bryan Brickhouse threw four innings for Idaho Falls, striking out three and giving up one hit. Ashton Goudeau got the win, allowing one hit and striking out two in three innings of relief.

The Rockies, the second-best hitting team in the Pioneer League at .290, struck out seven times and failed to steal a base for only the second time this season. Grand Junction has 41 stolen bases in its first 12 games. NUGGETS: Nurkic didn't start playing basketball coming years, but he has no plans to separate play based on gender. Elliott said he likes the coed format because it brings teams to an even playing field and gives players a chance to face opponents they normally wouldn't. "We are a couple years away from being able to do different gender divisions," he said.

"I probably wouldn't do it anyway. I just sort of like the idea that the girls and the guys get to play together." habits to correct." Harris said the physical play of the NBA doesn't faze him. "I have never been a guy to shy away from contact," Harris said. "I played football and I played in the Big Ten. Contact is nothing new to me.

It's something I embrace." Harris comes from a basketball background his mother, Joy, played for the WNBA's Detroit Shock in 2000 but basketball is relatively new for Nurkic. He picked up the game when he was 14 but quickly progressed to a first-round pick. TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 17 OGDEN RAPTORS 7:00 PM 19 OGDEN RAPTORS 7:00 PM OGDEN RAPTORS 7:00 PM 26 27 28 IDAHO IDAHO IDAHO FALLS FALLS FALLS CHUKARS CHUKARS CHUKARS 7:15 PM 7:15 PM 01 AWAY Wmm JjJ GAME UUjy ED B0ZARTH MARK MILLER CHEVROLET BUICK nihility Value Service Selection Continued from page IB defense wasn't very good last year and we want to emphasize defense a lot more. Him playing the guard position, he'll be at the point of attack, the first line of our defense. When you get a guy who's kind of starting out with a clean slate, there's no bad 995 1 if -o-Ti i CHEVY TAHOE Home Game Start Times Mon-Sat Sunday 4:05 pm 29 IDAHO FALLS CHUKARS 4:00 PM 30 0REM 0WLZ p1 MB 2013 I 2595 ATTEIVTIOIV ADVERTISERS The Daily Sentinel's advertising deadlines will be moving up to accommodate the 4th of July Holiday! This early deadline schedule is designed to help you plan your advertising around the holiday.

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