Post by jenny123 on Jan 23, 2014 22:24:38 GMT -5
MONTREAL -- A stunning climb in the world rankings and taking a set off the best female tennis player on the planet was reward enough for Eugenie Bouchards hard work in 2013. Now the native of Westmount, Que., is shooting for silverware. "I want to win a title (in 2014), thats for sure," said Bouchard, who surged to No. 32 in the WTA rankings this year from 144th. "Ill be happy with any title but the bigger the tournament is the better it will be. And my ultimate objective is a Grand Slam." Besides her lofty rise in the WTA standings, Bouchard defeated Ana Ivanovic -- then ranked world No. 12 -- in the second round of Wimbledon, forced Serena Williams to three sets in Cincinnati and was named WTA Newcomer of the Year. These accomplishments have earned Bouchard, who turns 20 in February, the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press female athlete of 2013. Bouchard received 45 per cent of ballots cast, finishing well ahead of snowboarder Dominique Maltais and speedskater Christine Nesbitt, who each had 11 per cent. "Its special," Bouchard said of the award, which is determined through balloting among sports editors and broadcasters across the country. "It just shows how much hard work Ive put in this year that Ive had good results. It makes me more proud of my year." Bouchard said her first full year on the tour allowed her to appreciate the differences from the junior circuit, where she starred in 2012 while winning the Wimbledon junior championship. "I feel like Ive had a lot of good experiences this year that will help me in the future," she said. "I got to play a lot of big matches on centre courts at Grand Slams like at the French Open and Wimbledon." Fellow tennis player Milos Raonic was voted The Canadian Press male athlete of the year on Thursday. Canadas team of the year will be revealed Saturday. A number of womens tennis players have won the Canadian Press honour over the years. Aleksandra Wozniak was the last to do so, taking the honour in 2009. Helen Kelesi and Carling Bassett are also former winners. Praise poured in for Bouchard from those who selected her for the Rosenfeld Award, originally awarded in 1933 and named for the Olympic champion and all-round athlete who was voted Canadas top female athlete for the first half of the 20th century. "Eugenie Bouchard is a name I think were going to be hearing a lot of in the future," said Montreal Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan. "Shes only going to get better and seems to have the game -- and the strength -- to make it into the top 10. Her name could be at the top of this list for years to come. A real breakout year from her." Pierre Champoux, news director at Radio-Canada.ca, suggested there doesnt seem to be much that can stop her from continuing her dramatic rise in the rankings. "How far will she go?" Champoux said. "Eugenie Bouchard opened the eyes of all Canadians with her dazzling progress among the best tennis players in the world." The expectations are high, but Bouchard says shes not going to let that get to her. "I put enough pressure on myself, so Im just going to focus on that and not worry about what other people think because thats out of my control," she said. "I really just want to focus on my tennis and, if I play well, if I perform well, then the results will come." Moses Woldu, sports director at Newcap TV (CKSA, CITL) in Lloydminster, Alta., put it succinctly for why he selected Bouchard. "Moving 100 spots in the tennis world rankings speaks for itself." Maltais, of Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois, Que., enjoyed a stellar year of her own, winning the overall World Cup snowboard cross title and a world silver medal. That was enough for Bob Addison, sports anchor for Vancouver radio station CKNW. "Tough choice, but Maltais takes it as the overall World Cup champ," he said. Others who received votes included heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, paralympic swimmer Valerie GrandMaison, gymnast Rosie MacLennan, snowboarder Maelle Ricker, mixed martial artist Alexis Davis, freestyle skier Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, snowboarder Spencer OBrien and bobsledder Kaillie Humphries. Bouchard becomes the fourth tennis player to win the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award. Carling Bassett took it in 1983 and 1985, Helen Kelesi in 1989 and 1990 and Aleksandra Wozniak in 2009. Toronto Raptors Jersey UK . The Cuban rookie was pulled from the game, and he then met with Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti behind closed doors after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-0 on Wednesday. Boston Celtics Jersey UK . 14. Bobrovsky posted a perfect 3-0-0 with a 0.97 goals-against average, .971 save percentage and one shutout. 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Parises agent Wade Arnott added on Sunday afternoon that his client is narrowing down his choices to a small group of teams and will probably decide on Monday.CALGARY -- There are questions about the quarterbacks on both sides of the football tonight in Calgary. How will Calgarys Drew Tate fare in his first CFL start and against his former team? Why is Saskatchewans Darian Durant playing when he has a broken bone in his foot and the Roughriders (4-11) are already eliminated from playoff contention? You can see the game on TSN, TSN.ca, and on TSN Mobile TV beginning at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt, and join our Game Night blog to chat with other football fans during the game. Tackling the second question first, when Durant was asked whether he was asked or told to play Friday, he replied: "A and B". "As far as the bone goes, theres a small chance you can re-injure that, but its the sprain in the foot that is prohibiting my mobility," Durant said Thursday at McMahon Stadium. "Its just a situation where coach asked me to play and Im going to do what Im told and this is my job and Ill leave it at that." For the first time since July 1, 2005, Henry Burris will not start for the Stampeders (8-7) for reasons other than injury or resting for the playoffs. Tate, who was on Saskatchewans practice roster in 2007 and 2008, will take Calgarys first snap deep into his third season of playing behind Burris. Its the 27-year-old Texans first start since his senior year at Iowa. "Pretty excited about it. Not going to lie. Ive been sitting in a cage now for awhile and Im going to come out flying," Tate said. Instead of giving either backup Ryan Dinwiddie or Cole Bergquist the ball first Friday, Roughrider head coach Ken Miller says he wants Durant on the field to start the game Friday. "Darian is not in any significant risk of further injuring his foot," Miller declared. "Darian is still, even though hes been a starter for us and been to Grey Cups, hes still an emerging quarterback for us. "Any snap that he takes in a real football game helps his development and growth. It will help him as he looks forward to next season and the season after. Hes one of the primary leaders on our team. "You can second-guess every decision. Right now, were going to do it the way Ive decided to do it. Im not going to let people outside the organization dictate how I go about doing that." Saskatchewan defeated Calgary in the West Division final en route to the Grey Cup game the last two years. The rivalry that has built between them -- theyve met in a playoff game three of the last four years -- was distinctly lacking in 2011. Calgary won three previous meetings this season and the last one 40-3 in Week 14. Their final regular-season matchup Friday lacks its usual playoff portent. "Especially for myself, its unfamiliar territory," Durant admitted. "Ever since Ive been here, weve met Calgary in the playoffs except I think for 08. "Its definitely different and something that I dont want to get used to so hopefully . . . Im going to do all I can to make sure this is the only year that happens." Since their win over Saskatchewan, the Stampeders haave lost two straight games on field goals to both the B.dddddddddddd. Lions and Toronto Argonauts. Calgary may have a playoff berth locked up, but their 2-5 record since Labour Day has eroded their confidence. In announcing earlier this week that Tate will start in place of Burris, head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said Burris had played "a bit hesitant" in his last seven games. "We need to win a football game," Hufnagel said. "We played two games on the road, we fell behind in both games and then played some spectacular football to get back into the football game and take the lead. We just werent able to finish it. "Were not far from being a winning team. Although we still have a winning record, you have to take what has happened over the last month and a half and weve had more than our share of disappointments. The close games that weve won at the beginning of the season, ended up being losses in the last month and a half." Calgary needs wins, and losses by B.C. and Edmonton (both 9-6), to keep alive any hope of a home playoff game this season. A Stampeder loss Friday and wins by both the Lions and Eskimos this weekend eliminates that possibility. "I think our confidence is shaken a bit, just because of what has transpired in the last two games.," Hufnagel said. "We played some spectacular football over the last two weeks, but we need to have that trust in each other, that when it comes crunch time, whatever unit is on the field is going to seal the deal. "Until we do that, theres always going to be that little bit of a doubt, but are the players confident they are a good team? Yes, I believe so. But not as highly confident this month as they were last month." The Stampeders have inserted Tate to run in short-yardage situations since last season. He performed well and gave Calgary a chance to win when he replaced Burris last week in Toronto. Tate completed 19 of 28 passes for 263 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes in the 31-29 loss. He may not have the same power in his arm as Burris, but Tate doesnt intend to play cautiously. "Ive never played conservative in my life and its probably a style of football thats gotten me where I am today," he said. "To change in a week, not going to happen." The thousands of Roughrider fans who attend games at McMahon Stadium add to the atmosphere, but a ticket sales for Fridays game were sluggish Thursday at less than 29,000. Another question in Fridays game is, will this be the last appearance at McMahon for 17-year Rider offensive lineman Gene Makowsky? The Saskatoon native is running for the Saskatchewan Party in the provincial election Nov. 7 in the riding of Regina Dewdney. "I usually leave career decisions for the end of the season," the 38-year-old said. "Well see how things shake out with my future. I cant predict how things will work out, especially on the seventh. Ill make a decision with my family and Im sure the Riders will have something to say about that as well." ' ' '