Abstimmungen » back-to-back American League pennants and a

Its unlikely that you would remember this scene from a muggy afternoon at the Wimbledon little over two decades ago: Martina Navratilovas backhand, in her final appearance, lands wide as her opponent and now delirious victor tosses her racket in the air, a smile rippling across her face, clutching the back of her head in disbelief. The 1994 title was to be Conchita Martinezs only Slam win. It didnt work in her favour that she belonged to one of the most luminous eras of womens tennis which had Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, among others.Today, as non-playing captain of the Spanish Davis Cup team, a role she assumed midway through last year, Conchita, 44, probably discerns that questions over a womans effectiveness in an all-male side cannot be wholly wished away. In Delhi on the eve of the India v Spain Davis Cup World Group play-off tie, starting on Friday, she faces the question with grace and measure of assertion. I dont see why a woman cant work with male players, she says, underscoring the need for more women coaches on the mens tour. Its not too different from coaching any other player. At the end of the day its about tennis and managing what you see. Its a normal job with challenges that any other job can have.Stepping into the scene when Spain, consigned to the wilderness of Europe/Africa Zone Group 1, was in the throes of a crisis, Conchita was faced with a daunting task. Her predecessor Gala Leon, a former world No 27 womens player, was sacked following a players revolt and Conchita knew that the understanding with the players was non-negotiable for her proposed profile. A consensus among them on her appointment, pivotal. I spoke to all the players a number of times before I took up the job, she says, Communication is the key in this role. The players were very comfortable with the idea and thats when I agreed to take charge.When pitting the brand of tennis peddled by her generation of players as opposed to that of the current power-infused version of the sport, shes prompt to list variety as the biggest casualty. I think the first person to hit the ball hard from both sides was Seles, adding a much faster pace, she says, Then came the Williams sisters and everybody was trying to hit the ball harder and everything was progressing, be it rackets, strings or balls. Now theres less variety. You cant see as much a slice or a high ball, a strong forehand or a drop shot, now its more about the power.Presently, Spain has two players in the WTA top 10 - Garbine Muguruza (No 3) and Carla Suarez Navarro (No 8), an indication, Conchita suggests, of the sports continued success in the country. Womens tennis in Spain is doing great. We have Muguruza, whos won a Grand Slam and Carla whos a very consistent player, she says.Over the past few years Spains top players lack of will to show up for Davis Cup ties has been abundantly manifest, largely stemming from their bitter equation with the national federation. Making the World Group this time, Conchita says, features as a primary goal. You know you are not going to get the top players in every tie but we have a big group of players who can do well and we want to have a competitive team in every tie. Here, weve got one, she adds, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder at the retreating backs of her teammates after practice, before sprinting across the court to catch up. Nick Martin Jersey . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Briean Boddy-Calhoun Jersey . 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"We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. DETROIT -- The Kansas City Royals reinstated closer Wade Davis from the 15-day disabled list Saturday.Davis hadnt pitched since June 30 because of a strained right forearm. The right-hander was 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 19 saves in 30 games when he went on the DL, and the All-Star break helped limit the number of games he missed.One of the best relievers in the game, manager Ned Yost said. Its hard to go a couple weeks without that, but we felt like we had it covered with (Kelvin) Herrera and (Luke Hochevar) and (Joakim) Soria, so that just gives us another quality arm we can put in the back end of that pen.The Royals entered Saturday nights game at Detroit wwith a 34-5 record when leading after six innings, but one of the defeats came the previous night, when the Tigers scored three runs in the seventh off Hochevar to beat Kansas City 4-2.ddddddddddddDavis has been one of the key components to a bullpen that has led the Royals to back-to-back American League pennants and a World Series title