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NEW YORK -- Barely 48 hours after Angelique Kerber waxed eloquent about how part of her championship journey this year included overcoming a tendency to lapse into negativity and express herself with adverse body language, there she was -- wagging her head, bouncing her racket, flipping her palms up in frustration.She had good reason. She had just lost control of the US Open final, making unexpected errors that allowed first-time Grand Slam finalist Karolina Pliskova a service break. The challenger, seeded No. 10, went on to win the second set. With the wind at her back, Pliskova then broke No. 2 Kerber to take a 2-1 lead in the third.It seemed that Kerber was about to produce an object lesson in how easily we regress to an earlier self, even if it isnt a better one. But Kerber had one more major surprise in store this year.She pulled out of her swoon, breaking Pliskova in the sixth game for 3-all. Suddenly the pessimistic mannerisms evaporated. Her energy level spiked, and her vaunted consistency returned. Kerber won it going away in a high-quality, 2-hour, 7-minute final, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.I was trying to change it [my negativity] in the third set, but it was not so easy because Karolina is a tough opponent, Kerber said. I just told myself, OK, stay positive. I was thinking a little bit of the [third set in the] final in Australia. I believed then my game, and I did it today, as well. So that was in my mind to stop the negative emotions.Kerbers victory over her doubts and the kind of perfectionism that too often yields disillusion in the ubertalented is the main theme of her spectacular year. It sets an example for all the other talented but flawed WTA contenders, and blows apart the theory that parity is inevitable. Whats even more remarkable is that she effected this transformation at a relatively late age.At 28, shes the oldest first-time No. 1 player, and just the fourth Open-era player to reach three Grand Slam finals in the same year she reached her first. Kerber upset top-seeded Serena Williams in the Australian Open final but lost the rematch at Wimbledon. They never met at the US Open. Li Na, now retired, is the only other woman who won her first two Grand Slam titles after 28.Kerber embarked on this year with two goals: She wanted to improve her fitness and wanted to be more aggressive, taking charge of points with an eye to finishing points when she had the opportunity. When you know you can run forever on court, youre not worried that you can play three sets, Kerber said. I think this is really important for your confidence.A string of close, frustrating losses in 2015 also convinced Kerber and her team that she needed to play more aggressive tennis. As with negativity, old habits are difficult to overcome. She had no trouble being aggressive in practice. In matches, she reverted to poking back the ball. Just to make the transfer to matches, that was the challenge, she said.Kerber made the transfer successfully in Australia, realizing the lifelong dream of every pro when she won a Grand Slam title. But in the ensuing months, she backslid. Her new status entailed obligations and a raft of pressures. Her results fluctuated wildly. She won Stuttgart, but lost her opening matches in the big combined clay-court tournaments in Madrid and Rome, and flamed out in the first round in the French Open. It was beginning to look like her run in Australia was just one of those things. More proof that nobody was really ready to step forward and make a bid to knock Williams off her No. 1 perch and take command of the WTA.Looking back, Kerber admits she just couldnt deal with the pressure when she arrived in Paris. But after she lost there, she went home and told herself, OK, just start practicing hard and go for it. You did it once, you still have two Grand Slams in front of you. Dont make things too complicated. Try to relax, enjoy every moment, get used to everything.Kerber has found her game and reinvented herself at an auspicious moment. With the Williams sisters grudgingly but inevitably giving more and more ground to age and injury, Kerber is not merely a nominal No. 1. She earned the honor the hard way, at Grand Slam events. She secured it with an impressive act of transformation. She showed that old habits and selves die hard, but they can be reformed.Definitely I would say now that [Kerber] deserves to be No. 1 because she did so well, Pliskova acknowledged after the final. She has two Grand Slam titles, one final, few other titles. Shes been just playing great this year, and constant. She deserve to be No. 1. And after years what Serena was there, I think its a nice change.Nice or not, it certainly makes for an interesting scenario for next year. Jrue Holiday Jersey . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Jahlil Okafor Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.shoppelicansonline.com/Authentic-Anthony-Davis-Pelicans-Jersey/ . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. ETwaun Moore Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Custom New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. NEWARK, N.J. -- With a four game road trip looming, the New Jersey Devils knew how important two back-to-back, home-and-home sets would be. Kyle Quincey said the teams goal was to win all four games.New Jersey went out and did just that.Nick Lappin and Kyle Palmieri scored in the second period to lead the Devils to a 4-2 victory over the Sabres on Saturday night, beating Buffalo for the second straight night. Earlier in the week, New Jersey beat Carolina twice in three nights.When you look at the wins, its a combination of very good effort by the players, making smart decisions, making right decisions, making good plays, playing with passion, playing with purpose and having some mental toughness, Devils coach John Hynes said. I think when you look at this past week weve had those things more times than not, and thats why weve been able to find a way to win.Quincey and John Moore also scored for the Devils, and Cory Schneider stopped 21 shots. Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Damon Severson had two assists each.Marcus Foligno and Matt Moulson scored for the Sabres, who have lost four straight. Robin Lehner finished with 23 saves.Lappin gave the Devils a 2-1 lead at 6:11 of the second as he took a pass from Hall on a 2-on-1 and fired a shot past Lehner for his second career goal.Hes one of the most skilled players in the league so when I see him get the puck there I have a pretty good feeling its going to end up on my stick if hes passing it, Lappin said. I was just waiting for it and he made a great play and I was able to get it in.Palmieri made it 3-1 from the right circle with 8:47 left in the second for his third of the season. The goal withstood a video review after the Sabres challenged for an offside call.Moores shot off a pass from Henrique on a 2-on-1 trickled by Lehner 6 1/2 minutes into the third to give the Devils a three-goal cushion.ddddddddddddThe goal came during 4-on-4 play. Buffalos Evander Kane was sent to the penalty box for hooking Vernon Fiddler at 5:32. However, the Devils power play was short-lived as Severson was whistled for cross-checking the Sabres Johan Larsson 42 seconds later.Moulson capped the scoring at 9:43 of the third period with William Carrier getting his first NHL point on the play.Quincey scored his first goal with New Jersey for a 1-0 lead 4:01 into the game as his slap shot from right in front of the blue line found the back of the net.The Sabres tied it 3:41 into the second period as Brian Gionta picked off a pass by Jacob Josefson and found Folingo, who had a clear path to the goal.We had that push back, we were able to tie it up and when they are able to stop the momentum and create one of their own, Brian Gionta said. Its tough.Game notes The Devils went 0 for 4 on power play, extending their streak to 20 straight man-advantage situations without a goal. ... New Jersey signed its third-round draft pick, 19-year-old forward Brandon Gignac, to a three-year, entry level contract. Gignac has five goals and 11 assists through 14 games with the QMJHLs Shawinigan Cataractes this season. ... The Devils acquired Petr Straka from the Flyers for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2017 or 2018 NHL Draft. Straka will report to Albany (AHL). ... The Devils wore camouflage jerseys in warm-ups for Military Appreciation Night. ... This was the second of three games the teams will play this season. The final game is Feb. 6 at Prudential Center. ... This was the second of the Sabres league-high 19 back-to-back sets this year.UP NEXTBuffalo: At St. Louis on Tuesday night.New Jersey: At Dallas on Tuesday night. ' ' '