MELBOURNE, Australia - Victoria Azarenka is in an unfamiliar position as the Australian Open gets underway: unseeded after a long injury layoff and no longer a heavy favourite to capture a title shes already won two times.While much as changed for the Belarussian, one thing has remained the same — her opponent on the other side of the net Tuesday. For the third consecutive year, Azarenka knocked American Sloane Stephens out of the Australian Open.Their matches at Melbourne Park have all been one-sided — Azarenka has won all three in straight sets — but they havent lacked drama.Two years ago, the two women faced off in the semifinals when Azarenka was the defending champion and Stephens a fresh-faced 19-year-old who had just upset No. 1-ranked Serena Williams in the quarters.Azarenka was comfortably ahead for much of the match, but the momentum began to shift in the second set. Azarenka, appearing flustered, called for an extended injury time-out that was considered by many to be strategic. Azarenka went on to win the match and her second title at Melbourne Park.Last year, the tension between the players was evident when Stephens icily described their relationship as nonexistent before they met in the fourth round. Despite her pre-match confidence, though, the result was the same: another Azarenka victory.When the Australian Open draw came out this year, Stephens said she had a funny feeling.I knew I was going to play her. Of course, Im not seeded, shes not seeded and were going to play each other, she said, before joking, The draws rigged, I swear. I need to go talk to (tournament director) Craig Tiley because this is ridiculous.Both Azarenka and Stephens came into 2015 on the mend — and hoping for a good result in Australia to build on.Azarenka played in just nine tournaments last year due to a left foot injury, causing her ranking to slip to No. 44 and for her to be unseeded at a major for the first time since the 2007 U.S. Open.She said she still needs more matches to feel comfortable on court again, though she looked sharp in her 6-3, 6-2 win over Stephens as she guided backhand winners down the line and volleyed with crisp precision.She even sounded like the Vika of old, pumping herself up with emphatic Come ons! and punctuating her shots with high-pitched hoots.Can she hoist the trophy again this year?The dreams are always big, and I think thats kind of the light in the end of the tunnel, Azarenka said. I dont know if its going to happen here or whenever, I just want to work and have that mentality that thats what I want to achieve.Stephens game, on the other hand, remains a work in progress. She is coming back from a wrist injury and is now on her third coach in the past year, Nick Saviano, who previously coached her when she was a rising junior.She believes shes due for a turnaround soon, particularly against Azarenka.Im going to do my best and hopefully, she said before stopping herself, No not hopefully. I will beat her one day. .Y. - DeMarre Carroll felt as though he couldnt miss in the second quarter as he outscored the Brooklyn Nets 14-13 all by himself. . -- Michigan coach John Beilein is willing to give Nik Stauskas a little leeway when it comes to shot selection.
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Sebastian Vettel climbed out of his Red Bull car, pumped his right first then held up eight fingers, one for each of his consecutive victories. Formula Ones baby-faced German dominator just keeps on rolling. The four-time world champion won the U.S. Grand Prix in easy fashion Sunday, setting an F1 season record with his eighth straight victory behind another blistering drive that gave the field no chance to catch him. "Incredible. Its one of those (records) you never expect to be beaten," Vettel said. Vettel started from the pole position he snagged from teammate Mark Webber of Australia in the finals seconds of Saturdays qualifying. The No. 1 spot proved important. Vettels trademark quick start got him through the critical first turn ahead of the traffic and his lead was never threatened. Lotus Romain Grosjean of France was second, his best finish of the year. Webber was third. Vettel charges into next weekends season finale in Brazil with a chance to tie Michael Schumachers Formula One record of 13 victories in a single season. Schumacher set the mark in 2004, and also won seven straight races that year. Vettel also is closing on the overall Formula One record for consecutive victories of nine, set by Alberto Ascari over parts of the 1952 and 53 seasons. "At the end of the day, what makes me jump into the car is not a certain number, but certainly today, when you realize youve done it, it makes you very proud in that moment," Vettel said. After the victory, Vettel spun his car through several doughnuts, a move that has drawn fines from the sports governing body earlier this season. Vettel later appeared to wipe away tears as he stood on the winners podium while listening to the German national anthem. He has been so dominant this season and in recent years that hes been greeted with boos after several victories. Vettel has dismissed the jeers as frustration from fans of teams who cant beat him. "We have to remember these days," Vettel told his crew over his car radio after the victory. "I love you guys. We have an incredible team spirit. Im so proud of you. I love you." The 26-year-old made his Formula One debut at 19 in the 2007 U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis and now has an American title that escaped him last year.dddddddddddd Vettel led most of the 2012 race in Austin until Lewis Hamilton passed him late to get the win. Vettel had called that a frustrating loss and ruthlessly dominated the field this time. He avoided the danger of the treacherous first corner that pushes the drivers 133 feet up and into a blind left turn back down the hill. Once through that and still in the lead, Vettel immediately began pulling away. Webber, frustrated at losing pole position on Saturday, had a terrible start from No. 2. Grosjean and Mercedes Hamilton both nosed ahead and pushed him into fourth barely seconds into the race. "(Saturday) is when the victory was made easy for Seb," Webber said. Webber fought back to overtake Hamilton, who finished fourth. He pushed Grosjean through several tense laps late but couldnt slip into second as Grosjean held him off. "You want to be on the outside of turn one, but Romain was already there," Webber said. "Romain drove a very good race." For Grosjean, it was another impressive result in the second half of the season as he earned his fourth podium finish of the year and third in six races. "The strategy was pretty clear: If we were with Mark, we copied what he was doing. If he was pitting for hard tires, we would pit for hard tires," Grosjean said. The only dangerous incident came in the first lap. Sahara Force Indias Adrian Sutil was knocked out of the race when he bumped tires with Saubers Esteban Gutierrez. The bump sent Sutil nose first into the wall and put the race almost immediately under a yellow flag. Sutil was able to climb out of the car unhurt. For the 37-year-old Webber, Brazil will be his last race in Formula One. Hes leaving the series after 12 years, seven of them with Red Bull, a span that has featured some tense moments with Vettel. Webber has nine career Formula One victories but none this year despite two starts from pole position and three more from No. 2. Hell race next year for Porsche in the world endurance championships. "Its time," Webber said about his departure. "Driving around in the middle of the race I was thinking, "Yeah, Im really looking forward to it." ' ' '
