Was ist Paintball? » tourney director) for the wild card he gave me."

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Nicolas Mahut certainly knows a little something about being on court for a long time. Judging by his smile, it was a lot better feeling this time. The 31-year old Frenchman captured the title at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Sunday, beating Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. Mahut, a 2007 Newport finalist and a wild-card entrant this week, won his second career ATP title. The other came at s-Hertogenbosch last month. Mahut lost the longest match in tennis history three years ago, dropping the fifth set to John Isner 70-68 at Wimbledon in a match that lasted 11 hours, 5 minutes. A display with items used in that match is located a few hundred yards away in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. On Sunday morning, Mahut advanced after beating American Michael Russell 6-2, 6-2 in just 63 minutes. Mahut needed 2 hours, 19 minutes to get past Hewitt. Then he had to prepare for a doubles semifinal. "You guys know I can play a long time, stay a long time on the court," he said, breaking into a grin while standing on a rear practice court. "I would like to tell you Im not tired. Im tired, but I have the trophy in my bag, so I just need to get ready to play one more match." In the final set, Mahut broke in the sixth and eighth games to take control. He won the final point with a drop shot at the net, then dropped to his knees, putting both hands to his face before bending face down. "I was not supposed to play," he said of gaining a wild-card entry into the tournament. "I wasnt able to play the (qualifiers). Im really grateful to (the tourney director) for the wild card he gave me." In the second set, Hewitt led 5-3. Mahut held in the ninth game before breaking in the 10th, winning the last two points when Hewitt double faulted. Earlier in the day, two-time defending champion Isners run on Newports grass court came to an end when he was ousted by No. 4 seed Hewitt 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. The loss ended 13 straight match wins in Newport for the 28-year old Isner, the highest ranked American at No. 19. The 32-year old Hewitt, who lost the Newport final to Isner last year, felt the lengthy earlier match affected his play. "It was a long battle this morning. It was tough on both of us," he said. "In the end, I got the better of John. It was going to be tough on both of us this afternoon." Both semifinals were rained out Saturday. "Its never disappointing losing to a guy like Lleyton Hewitt, especially on this surface," said Isner, who called for the trainer after the first changeover. "I was probably eventually going to lose this tournament. It just happened a little earlier than I thought or wanted." The 6-foot-10 Isner said he felt pain in his left knee area, similar to what forced him to retire in his second-round match at Wimbledon last month. "It was obviously not as severe because I was able to continue," he said. "It was a little bit scary. The more I think about it and the more I talk about it, I think its an issue with my quad because the pain is directly above my kneecap." But he said it wasnt the reason he lost the match, which was played in bright sunshine under humid conditions, with temperatures in the mid-80s. "He handled the conditions much better than me, simple as that," he said. "He deserved to win." At 40-30 the final game, Hewitt ended the match with a forehand cross-court shot. He raised both hands in the air before waving to his wife, Bec, seated in the first row on the far end of the court. Wholesale Air Jordan Authentic . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Wholesale Air Jordan Online . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.cheapairjordanonline.com/ . 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His turnaround is what the Rays need from the rest of their rotation such as Thursday starter Drew Smyly, who goes into the series finale against the Kansas City Royals with a 3-11 record and a 5.29 ERA.His last start, however, was what the Rays are looking for -- six innings, four hits and two runs in a victory over the Yankees. To continue where Odorizzi left off, hell have to be nothing like the pitcher the Royals saw May 31.In that start, Smyly lasted only four innings -- matching his shortest outing of the year -- and gave up a season-high 12 hits while tying his high with eight runs in a 10-5 loss.Inconsistency is something the Royals pitchers know well.Thursday starter Ian Kennedy is 6-9 with a 4.23 ERA. His last outing against the Rays, moreover, is something youd want to repeat, holding Tampaa Bay to one run (unearned) on three hits in six innings.dddddddddddd In 11 starts since, hes given up at least one earned run in every start.Royals manager Ned Yost has tried nearly anything to solve his pitchers problems. Knowing that Wednesday starter Edinson Volquez had struggled in the first inning, Yost had pitching coach Dave Eiland warm Volquez up before the game, but stop early, sitting him down for a moment. He then got him back up for the rest of warmups, thinking the pronounced break would seem like a first inning to his mechanics and bypass his early issues.The four-run first did us in, Yost said, pleased that Volquez held the Rays to two runs in the next five innings before his bullpen imploded. If we eliminate the first inning, were right in the game.The Royals had beaten the Rays in 12 of 13 previous meetings, so a loss Thursday and a season split will be disappointing for a team still just five games below .500 but bearing little resemblance to last years championship team.Fixing those problems will start in the first inning, where Royals pitchers have a 6.48 ERA, the worst in the majors. The Rays hit for the cycle in their first seven at-bats Wednesday -- double, single, home run, triple -- so nearly anything from Kennedy will be a step in the right direction. ' ' '