If Angelique Kerber is the type of thoughtful person who still writes thank-you notes, she probably has one in the mail right now to Serena Williams.Williams, the No. 2-ranked woman tennis player in the world (it still seems strange to read that, right?), basically handed No. 1 Kerber the year-end No. 1 ranking for 2016 when Williams declared that she was pulling out of the critical tournaments in Wuhan and Beijing.The decision torpedoed the scenario that both the ATP and WTA dreamed about when they created their tours and year-end championships: a battle for the top ranking that goes down to the wire, long after the last ball in Grand Slam tournament play is called out.I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder, Williams said in a statement published on the WTA website last Friday. I have been practicing and playing but my shoulder is still not fit for tournament play. ... I am focused on getting ready to compete at the WTA Finals in Singapore.Problem: Kerber already leads Williams in the rankings by more points than the challenger could earn by winning Singapore. True, Kerber will be defending 1,215 points she earned last fall, but keep in mind she didnt win a single title and had a terrible WTA championships, which means there is a more than likely chance she will build on her lead over Williams.Williams obviously feels no need to put the Kerber genie back in the bottle. Williams has her own priorities, which clearly do not include finishing the year ranked No. 1. That might explain why she declared the subject off limits as Kerber closed on the top spot through the summer. It might not be as baffling a position as it appears. Williams shares the record (men and women) for more Grand Slam titles (22) in the Open era with Steffi Graf. Those two also hold the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 (186).Williams is 35 and shes been No. 1 for 309 cumulative weeks (good for No. 3 on the all-time list headed by Graf, then Martina Navratilova). Williams has been the year-end No. 1 five times. Adding another year to that count doesnt seem nearly as succulent a goal as bagging another major to surpass Graf.Finishing No. 1 for 2016 certainly wouldnt be worth the price if it left her unfit for the new year.Williams abdication might be disappointing, but theres evidence that shes offering delayed gratification in the form of a big, new push in 2017. In what might have been a rare moment of transparency last week, she told CNN, Im tired of playing tournaments unhealthy and taking losses that I would never lose.If Williams already has vengeful eyes riveted on 2017, Singapore becomes more of a question mark. Williams played no tennis after the US Open last year but nevertheless went on to reach the Australian Open final. Would she spurn the WTA Championships for two years in a row? Williams might be obliged to show up, but she cant be forced to train hard or arrive ready to play at full capacity. We wont be able to take the true measure of Williams until next January.Its almost impossible to see Williams going into the Australian Open as the No. 1 seed. She will be seen through different eyes in the locker room. She will know a different form of pressure at a time in her career when she seems to forget far too often how she became dominant. Williams might be great theater these days, but some still prefer the lethal, steely-eyed player who once struck fear in the heart of every opponent without a single shriek, clenched fist or shout of, Come on!After Australia, Williams went on to reach the French Open final and won Wimbledon. She closed out the season with a surprising semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova. That setback reminded us that in many ways, Williams has become a suffering champion, which has brought her unprecedented attention.Now she must prove the rumors of her latest demise have been greatly exaggerated and that she has one last run in her. Call it: Serenas Last Stand. Air Force 1 Baratas Rebajas . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Comprar Air Force 1 Baratas . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. http://www.airforce1baratas.es/ . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Air Force 1 Baratas España . JOHNS, N. Air Force 1 Rebajas . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. A look at the eight consolation games Friday in the Las Vegas Summer League:76ERS 74, HEAT 66No. 1 pick Ben Simmons returned for his final summer game and had 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.Simmons had sat out the last two games. Shawn Long led the 76ers (2-4) with 18 points and 10 rebounds.The Heat rested Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and most of their top players again in finishing 3-3.SPURS 90, KINGS 86, OTDejounte Murray scored 20 points as the Spurs erased a double-digit in the fourth quarter of its final game.Recently signed Davis Bertans and Bryn Forbes each added 15 points as San Antonio finished 3-2 after winning the championship last year under coach Becky Hammon.Rookie Skal Labissiere, taken with the No. 28 pick and dealt to Sacramento, scored 19 points. The Kings finished 0-5.TRAIL BLAZERS 80, CELTICS 75Pat Connaughton scored 23 points and Pierre Jackson chipped in 20 points and eight assists for the Trail Blazers.Portland finished 2-3.Jaylen Brown, the No. 3 pick, finished his summer with 21 points and seven reboundss.dddddddddddd Boston went 1-4.ROCKETS 92, BUCKS 89Montrezl Harrell had 20 points and eight rebounds, Sam Dekker added 17 points and eight boards, and the Rockets finished up their summer by holding off Milwaukee.K.J. McDaniels scored 15 points for Houston, which shot 52 percent and finished 2/3 as it prepares for its first season under Mike DAntoni.D-LEAGUE SELECT 88, PELICANS 76Quinn Cook scored 19 points as the NBA D-League Select Team finished with a 3-2 record in Las Vegas.Buddy Hield was 1 for 7 from 3-point range and 5 for 18 overall as the Pelicans blew a 10-point halftime lead and finished 1-4. Cheick Diallo had 12 points and 10 rebounds.HAWKS 89, GRIZZLIES 79Bryce Cotton scored 18 points and Brandon Ashley had 17 for the Hawks.Edy Tavares finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds to help Atlanta leave Las Vegas with a 4-2 mark.Vince Hunter scored 18 points to pace Memphis (2-3) and Levi Randolph had 16. ' ' '