Neuigkeiten » then dropped two in a row before getting back on track

BEIJING -- Rafael Nadal will supplant Novak Djokovic atop the rankings after advancing to the final of the China Open on Saturday when Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic retired with a back injury. Billy Martin Yankees Jersey . The Spaniard was a break up at 4-2 in the opening set of their semifinal when Berdych retired soon after taking an injury timeout. Nadal could face Djokovic on Sunday, as the Serb played Richard Gasquet of France in the other semifinal later Saturday. Nadal, who improved to 27-0 on hard courts this season, will return to the top ranking for the first time since July 2011. Djokovic has been No. 1 for 101 weeks. "The personal satisfaction is not because I am No. 1 today, its because (of) all the work (I put in) to be where I am today," Nadal said. "I dont feel (like) a better player now than five hours ago, and I wont go to bed tonight feeling that I am the best player in the world--thats something Ive never thought." In the womens draw, top-ranked Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic of Serbia advanced to the final with contrasting wins. Serena earned a straight-forward 6-2, 6-2 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland while Jankovic rallied for a 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-1 win over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. Nadal had been assured of reclaiming the top spot if he reached the final in Beijing or Djokovic failed to defend his title. Nadal, the reigning French Open and U.S. Open champion, has had a dominant year since returning in February from a seven-month layoff due to a left knee injury. He has won 10 titles and reached 12 finals overall, compiling an ATP Tour-best record of 65-3 on the season. He hasnt lost a match since falling in the opening round at Wimbledon to 135th-ranked Steve Darcis of Belgium in June, his only blip this year. "(This is) a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt," Nadal said. "Sure is special (to) be back to the top position of the rankings after more than a half year without playing tennis." Joe Girardi Jersey . He scored two highlight-reel goals in a three-minute span -- the second on a sideways bicycle kick in the 78th minute -- to give the Whitecaps a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers before a crowd of 20,303 at B. Gary Sanchez Jersey .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances. https://www.cheapyankees.com/3371g-jackie-robinson-jersey-yankees.html . -- When Steve Blake checked in at the scorers table with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter, Stephen Curry shook his head and shouted across the court, asking Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson not to take him out.(SportsNetwork.com) - The top two teams in the Metropolitan Division will clash Wednesday evening in D.C. as the Washington Capitals welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins for a battle at the Verizon Center. You can watch the game on TSN2 at 8pm et/5pm pt. With 26 points on a 13-8-0 record, Pittsburgh is just one point ahead of the streaking Capitals for first place in the Metro, the newly-named division that makes up half of the realigned Eastern Conference. This is the first of four scheduled meetings between the Pens and Caps during the 2013-14 regular season. Pittsburgh enters Wednesday on a four-game winning streak in this series and also has taken three of the past five meetings in the nations capital. Washington, however, is coming off its third straight victory and can match a season-best winning streak with another triumph in tonights divisional matchup. The Capitals opened November with four consecutive wins, but then dropped two in a row before getting back on track with their current hot streak. Washington has scored four goals in each of its wins during the three-game stretch and the club last played on Sunday when it downed the visiting St. Louis Blues by a 4-1 count. Alex Ovechkin continued his terrific start to the season with a two-goal performance against the Blues. The Russian superstar has 17 goals on the season, tying him with Alexander Steen of St. Louis for the NHL lead. Ovechkin, of course, led the league with 32 goals in 48 games last season and won his third Hart Trophy at the end of the lockout-shortened campaign. Ovechkin enters Wednesday on a three-game goal-scoring streak and has four markers during that stretch. The 28-year-old winger has registered 22 goals and 40 points in 31 career games against the Penguins. John Carlson and Mikhail Grabovski each scored a goal while Nicklas Backstrom posted three assists for the Capitalls on Sunday. CC Sabathia Yankees Jersey. Braden Holtby made 46 stops to earn the win. "I think weve been playing decent hockey and hopefully well continue to grow," said Washington head coach Adam Oates. The Capitals have won six straight home games and havent been defeated in D.C. since dropping a 2-0 decision against the New York Rangers on Oct. 16. Pittsburgh enters Wednesdays showdown having won two of its past three games, but the club is just 2-4-0 since winning four in a row from Oct. 28-Nov. 2. The Pens last played on Monday when they recorded a 3-1 home victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Brian Gibbons, Brandon Sutter and Sidney Crosby each scored third-period goals to back 27 saves from Marc-Andre Fleury in the triumph at CONSOL Energy Center. Gibbons, making his NHL debut after being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Monday, added an assist on Sutters marker that came just 62 seconds after the rookie snapped a scoreless tie. Evgeni Malkin delivered a pair of helpers for the Penguins, who had registered only eight goals in dropping four of their previous five coming into Mondays tilt. "I think I am just taking it all in right now," Gibbons said. "I dont usually show a lot of emotion, but on the inside I am really happy." Crosby is tied with Steen for the NHL lead in points with 26. Like Ovechkin, Crosby has fared well in tonights matchup during his career, posting 14 goals and 43 points in 25 career games against the Capitals. Fleury is 13-7-2 with a 2.60 goals against average in 23 career games against Washington. Holtby is 0-3-0 with a 4.53 GAA in three outings versus the Pens. Capitals defenseman Mike Green has missed the past two games with a lower-body issue, but was able to practice on Tuesday. However, he may need a little more time to get into game shape before returning. ' ' '