Stosur ‘still has three or four great years in her prime’, says Navratilova

New York: Czech-American tennis Tennis legend Martina Navratilova believes that Australian star Samantha Stosur’s dedication to fitness and lack of major injuries can keep her as a grand slam contender for another three to four years.

Stosur has been a late bloomer on the professional tour and Navratilova reckons that the 27-year-old’s body is a lot fresher than her own at the same age.

“Better late than never, she still has three or four great years in her prime where she can still do some damage,” Fox Sports quoted Navratilova, as saying.

“In terms of playing hard tennis, she does not have that much wear and tear on her body. Her body is young and is holding up really well,” she added.

Stosur became the first Australian woman to make the final four at the US Open in 27 years after a straight-sets quarterfinal win over World No.2 Vera Zvonareva.

She will now face unseeded Angelique Kerber in the semi-final.

If successful, she will come up against either World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki or Serena Williams in the final.

ANI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 18:17

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Ex-NBA player Crittenton still wanted for murder (AP)

ATLANTA – Javaris Crittenton was wanted on a murder charge as police searched on Saturday for the former NBA player in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Crittenton has been charged in the fatal shooting of 22-year Jullian Jones, a mother of four who was gunned down Aug. 19 on an Atlanta street.

A spokesman with the Atlanta police said Crittenton was not in custody. Calls to the FBI and U.S. Marshal's office weren't immediately returned.

Three of Crittenton's neighbors in Fayetteville said SWAT members executed a search warrant last week on his residence.

The neighbors declined to give their names to The Associated Press during interviews near Crittenton's home in an affluent cul-de-sac 17 miles south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

No one answered the door at Crittenton's residence, a three-story brick home with a manicured lawn and a small backyard.

Crittenton, who spent the 2006-07 season at Georgia Tech and played in 113 NBA games, allegedly killed Jones with shots fired from a dark-colored SUV, police said.

According to Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos, investigators don't believe Jones was the intended target. His motive, Campos said, appeared to be retaliation for an April robbery in which Crittenton was a victim.

Messages left for an agent who has represented Crittenton weren't immediately returned Friday or Saturday.

Crittenton, who averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 assists in his career, last played in the NBA during 2008-09. He was sidelined by an ankle injury the following season, during which he and teammate Gilbert Arenas were suspended for a gun-related incident in the Wizards' locker room.

Two days after a dispute stemming from a card game on a team flight, Arenas brought four guns to the locker room and set them in front of Crittenton's locker with a sign telling him to "PICK 1." Crittenton then took out his own gun.

Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge on Jan. 25, 2010, and received probation.

After the Wizards declined to re-sign him, he signed a non-guaranteed contract with Charlotte before last season. The Bobcats waived him Oct. 15, and he then played five games in China for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, averaging 25.8 points. He also played 20 games for the NBDL's Dakota Wizards, averaging 14.3 points.

Crittenton was drafted 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007. He played little with Los Angeles and was traded to Memphis in his rookie year, then to Washington in December 2008.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank wrote in an e-mail to the AP that Crittenton is no longer under contract with Dakota.

"Beyond that I have nothing to add," Frank said.

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Associated Press writer Ray Henry and AP sports writer Jim O'Connell contributed to this report.

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Marlins still can't figure out Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eighty-year-old Jack McKeon has seen plenty in his 53 years in professional baseball. But the Florida Marlins manager has had enough.

After the San Diego Padres routed the Marlins 14-1 on Saturday night to hand the club it's 14th loss in 16 games, McKeon was not happy.

The Padres scored four runs in the first inning in a pattern that has become too familiar to the Marlins.

Florida has allowed 12 first-inning runs in its last four games. In their six games against the Padres this season, the Marlins have allowed 16 first-inning runs.

"It's tough. It's getting embarrassing," McKeon said. "Before we get out of the second inning, we're behind three or four runs. It's getting kind of old."

Nick Hundley homered and doubled twice in going 4 for 4, Orlando Hudson homered and drove in four runs, and San Diego took advantage of the Marlins again.

The Padres beat Florida for the sixth straight time this season while outscoring them 44-11 in that span.

"(San Diego) isn't a very good hitting club, but they kick the hell out of us every time we see them," McKeon said. "It's either our pitchers aren't that good or something."

Hudson connected for a three-run shot in the first inning off Clay Henley (1-5). One pitch later, Kyle Blanks homered into the second deck of the brick Western Metals Supply Co. building in the left field.

Hundley's two-run drive came in the sixth. San Diego finished with 16 hits, eight of them for extra bases.

"I felt like I was making some good pitches," Hensley said. "But any pitch that was remotely up, they hit. Any mistake that I made, I didn't get away with."

Aaron Harang (12-3) combined with two relievers for his third win in four starts. Harang gave up three hits, including Jose Lopez's homer in the sixth, in six innings. The righty walked five walked and struck out six.

Cameron Maybin had three hits for the Padres and Blanks, Will Venable and Logan Forsythe each drove in two runs. Hundley scored three times.

Since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 12, Hundley has hit safely in seven of eight games while batting .536 (15 of 28) with four doubles, three triples, two home runs and five RBIs.

Hensley, winless in six starts, allowed a season-high seven runs on seven hits in 3 2-3 innings.

Omar Infante returned for Florida after missing 14 games with a fractured right middle finger. He went hitless in four at-bats.

NOTES: The Padres have beaten Florida 14 of 18 times overall dating to August 2009. ... The Marlins have allowed 97 first-inning runs, tops in the majors. ... Hundley's home run was the 1,000th hit in Petco Park since it opened in 2004. ... Hensley made his major league debut with San Diego in 2005 and pitched four seasons with the Padres. ... In Sunday's series finale, Marlins right-hander Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 3.97 ERA) will try for his second straight win after snapping a career-high 11-start winless streak in his last outing. He will be opposed by Padres' lefty Corey Luebke (5-6, 2.99), who has held left-handed batters to the third-lowest batting average in the majors at .147 (17 for 116).

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