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LONDON -- Her champions heart still beat with life and hope. Venus Williams had played through seemingly endless deuces. Swatted away break points. A burst of energy got her to deuce one more time, and she capitalized by walloping a desperate inside-out forehand winner.Then Williams opponent did her part. Angelique Kerber, up a set, missed a service return and saw her second-set lead trimmed to 3-2. Williams still had a chance. She might still find a way to win this Wimbledon semifinal.Williams trudged to her chair, breathing through parted lips. She sat, a blank look on her face. She popped the red plastic cap on her water bottle, took a sip. She closed her eyes, as if something she didnt particularly care to read were written in the air in front of her. The message might have been: Youre 36 years old. Youve had a great run. But all good things come to an end.Trailing 3-2. So close, but so far. It had cost so much effort. Her legs had stood her in good stead through five matches, providing sufficient spring to launch wicked serves, explosive first steps, on-a-dime changes of direction and minor midpoint stance adjustments. Now they were flagging as she faced Kerber, an extremely clever ball striker.The 28-year-old German knew exactly what she wanted to do. She was aware of Williams age. She knew Williams suffers from an autoimmune condition that causes fatigue and joint pain. She knew her opponents history at Wimbledon.?Kerber said she was too busy taking care of things on her own side of the net to notice if Williams was a little slow or tired.I know that she played long matches, in the first week especially, Kerber said after she eliminated Williams 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday in an hour and 12 minutes. I was trying to moving her. That was the plan. That is always the plan when you play against Venus, because when she have the ball on the racket, yeah, she just hits the ball from left to right, and you just run.Kerber, the No. 4 seed, has had trouble handling the pressure of her status as a Grand Slam champion after her breakthrough win at the Australian Open in January. The versatile left-hander had no trouble curbing the stress Thursday.Ever stoic, 8-seed Williams refused to blame fatigue -- or any factor but Kerbers proficiency -- for the loss: She played so well. Just credit to her for playing well. Second [Grand Slam] final of the year. It shows shes doing something right.It was clear from the outset of the match that almost two full weeks of work, often under circumstances that might have warranted extra pay for the wet, hazardous conditions, had finally taken a toll on Williams. The first week, overflowing with stops and starts, was as emotionally wearing as it was sloppy and fitful. Williams passed grueling three-set tests in the second and third rounds (her win in the latter took two hours and 24 minutes). She celebrated with a pair of knockout wins in the next two rounds to reach the semis.Williams and Kerber both struggled to serve early in Thursdays match. Kerber, whose second serve is vulnerable, admitted she was feeling the jitters. Williams took advantage. Kerber is an excellent returner. Williams, whose serve is usually explosive, lacked spring in her legs. Kerber took advantage.I dont know what was the problem, Kerber said. I think we both were returning very well at the beginning of the first set. I mean, I was a little bit nervous when I go out there because I was trying to playing my best tennis.Williams quickly went two breaks down in the first set. She never led in the match. Her fatigue is written all over the stat sheet:Only 15 percent of her serves went unreturned -- her lowest number in her six Wimbledon matches this year.She won by far her lowest percentage of first-serve points (57 percent; next lowest was 65 percent).She clocked her second-lowest average first serve speed.She didnt hit a single service-return winner.She produced her worst performance of the tournament in rallies lasting longer than nine shots. Williams won just two of nine such points; in her opening match, she won 11 of 19.Still, Williams dug in and earned back one of those first-set breaks. She pressed hard when Kerber served for the set at 5-4 but just didnt have enough power to break through. Discouraged, Williams gave up an early second-set break. She staved off a rout with that hold in the 3-1 game, but the American was unable to keep Kerber from rolling to the win.I played against a lot of great opponents. I had a lot of tough matches. Its not easy out there, Williams reminded reporters afterward. Reflecting on the threat she posed for so long in this tournament at her age, she added, Yeah, in life there is no such thing as impossible. Its always possible. Thats what you feel as an athlete. Pretty much our job is to make the impossible happen every day. Its like magic, you know. I like that.Joe Kocur Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Ron Greschner Rangers Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/martin-st-louis-hockey-jersey/ .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. James Patrick Rangers Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Jaromir Jagr Rangers Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday.OAKLAND, Calif. -- A towel over his head in the waning moments and Kevin Durants spectacular, statement-making night in the books at last, he could finally breathe and briefly forget the constant chatter about his departure from Oklahoma City.It came from everywhere. It came for months. A matchup -- and rematch -- circled from the moment he joined the Golden State Warriors way back in July. KDs big decision that left a fan base and a franchise feeling scorned.Durant got the last word in the first reunion against Russell Westbrook and his old Thunder teammates, going off for 39 points and matching his career high with seven 3-pointers in Golden States 122-96 dismantling of previously unbeaten OKC on Thursday night in a rematch of the thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals .I dont want to say any part was strange. Ive moved on, Durant said. Im part of the Golden State Warriors. Im excited to be part of this team. What I did those last eight years was special and something Im never going to forget, but Im trying to look forward. I just try to separate those emotions and feelings and also try to do my job.That meant no greetings at tipoff or pregame pleasantries needed between KD and old pal Russ.Nah. Theres no love lost between these superstars who went their separate ways after their summer ended empty-handed -- having squandered a 3-1 lead in the West Finals to Durants new team.When I go on the court, I dont talk to anybody but my teammates, Westbrook said afterward. He had reason to be a little grumpy: His rough 20-point outing on 4-for-15 shooting dropped him from the NBAs leading scorer, with a 38.7 average coming into the night, to second at 34.2.Westbrook showed up at Oracle Arena donning a bright orange Official Photographer vest, and left wearing it, too. It was quickly pointed out that photography is one of Durants off-the-court passions.Theres no particular reason, theres no story behind it, its just because I wanted to wear it, Westbrook said. I dont wear anything for nobody. I wear what I want to wear, when I want to wear it.That vest came all the way from Madrid.With the hype surrounding a testy reunion, this rivalry might be here for thee long haul.ddddddddddddSubplots like this dont just go away, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.How could it?Durant left OKC for the Bay Area and a chance to play alongside two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, while Westbrook stayed put as the Thunders night-in, night-out star.The decision he made was in July, so weve all here had to move past it, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.It didnt take Durant long to get going, and when he did he was unstoppable. He finished 15 of 24 from the field, including 7 of 11 from behind the arc.He came out confident so that first shot went in and it was off to the races from there, Curry said. It was definitely fun. We knew how much it meant for him to just get out there and play with all the noise around the game.Durant knocked down a 28-foot 3-pointer on Golden States initial possession, back-to-back jumpers late in the first before a reverse lay-in and three-point play in which he breezed by Jerami Grant and let some words fly. Grant had dunked on him earlier , after all.When you get dunked on like that, as a competitor out there you want to come back and try to make a play and try to ignite your team, Durant said. He ignited his team with that dunk. I was just trying to do the same throughout the whole game.Durant hit Golden States final four field goals of the first quarter with a late 3 as the Warriors got within 32-31. He finished with his third 30-point performance and the Warriors fourth straight victory since they lost 129-100 to the Spurs in KDs debut Oct. 25.Even Kerr was about as fired up as he gets on the bench, hit with a technical in the first when a foul wasnt called on a Curry 3-point attempt -- he got mauled, Kerr said afterward. Assistant coach Mike Brown had to hold him back.Little needed to be said to Durant on this night.We knew that was a huge game for him. He wanted to win that game and if you dont want to win that game, Im questioning what kind of competitor you are, Green said. We wanted to rally around him and make sure we got that done. ' ' '