MELBOURNE, Australia - U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan paid tribute to Li Na, describing her as an inspiration for Asian tennis.Nishikori, who is touted as one of the mens stars of the future, said he was very sad about the two-time Grand Slam winners retirement last year due to knee problems. Li was the first player from Asia to win a major.She was big, big leadership for especially Asian tennis, said Nishikori, who reached the U.S. Open final and a career-high No. 5 ranking last year, making him the highest-ranked Asian man in tour history.I think Im getting close to — not really — but getting close to her, Nishikori said after winning his first-round match Tuesday at the Australian Open. Hopefully I can come back to a Grand Slam final again.Earlier in the day, Li had complimented the 25-year-old Nishikori.I think hes an amazing player, said Li, who won the Australian Open last year before retiring in September.Its not easy to be on the top, she said. I know how hard working he (is). So I believe he can win a Grand Slam. Seriously.By Jocelyn Gecker -- http://twitter.com/jgecker___VENUS ON MOTHERHOOD: The news of Li Nas pregnancy has some of the other players talking about motherhood.Maybe there will be twins and a doubles team, joked Venus Williams, who has won 13 Grand Slams doubles titles with her younger sister, Serena.The 34-year-old Williams said she wasnt ready for children yet.I dont know. Im still a big kid. Im still growing up, Williams said in response to a question during her news conference after her first-round win in Australia.She definitely made the right decision, I think, starting a family, Williams said. I hope that one day I can get to that level. Well see.Its such a big job. Its like the biggest job in the world, added Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles. As much responsibility as Ive taken on in my life, that still seems daunting.By Jocelyn Gecker -- http://twitter.com/jgecker___HAIR OF EXPECTANCY: Milos Raonics sculpted hair is a source of conversation around the tennis tours. Its so famous, in fact, it even has its own spoof Twitter accounts — @milosraonichair and @Milos_Hair.And his fellow Canadian, Eugenie Bouchard, has had enough.Asked about his latest haircut following her first-round win at the Australian Open, Bouchard took aim at Raonics obsession with styling.I made fun of his hair last year. I dont know how its different now. I just think he spends way too much time worrying about his hair.More than her?Clearly, she deadpanned.Raonic wasnt being dragged into the debate after his win over Ukrainian qualifier Illya Marchenko on Tuesday.Told what Bouchard said, he politely declined to comment.Next question, really. Im not going to get into this, he said with a smile.By Justin Bergman -- https://twitter.com/justinb3rg___COFFEE OR PIZZA? Serena Williams had one word of advice for Taylor Townsend before the 18-year-old American played at an Australian Open warm-up tournament in Hobart.Win, Serena wrote in a text.I told her Im about to go on court and she just put win, thats it, Townsend said with a laugh.Townsend didnt win her Australian Open debut match against former No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday, but she said the advice shes received from Serena and her sister Venus has certainly made an impression in her first couple years on tour.Its hard work to be out here. Its very dog-eat-dog, she said. And to have them in my corner, with them being such great champions, its a great asset for me to have.Serena recently resorted to an unusual tactic to win a match at the Hopman Cup in Perth — she ordered an espresso on court and it helped spark her come-from-behind win over Italian Flavia Pennetta.I didnt know you could order an espresso while youre playing. Thats not something I would do, Townsend said.But shes Serena Williams. If she wanted to get a pizza, she could get a pizza.By Justin Bergman -- https://twitter.com/justinb3rg___Australian Open Scene follows tennis Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne as seen by journalists from The Associated Press. It will be updated throughout the day. Cheap Stitched Jerseys . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. China NBA Jerseys . With the Canadiens leading by one to start the third period, Price turned away 16 shots by the Panthers in the final frame to give Montreal a 2-1 victory over Florida on Monday night. The Panthers (16-21-6) outshot Montreal 16-10 in the final frame, but were repeatedly frustrated by Price, who made 26 saves on the night. http://www.wholesalejerseysnflforsale.com/.Y. - The Philadelphia Eagles game at Green Bay against the Packers on Nov. Wholesale Basketball Jerseys 2018 . Cleary also had two assists and Patrick Eaves added two goals for the Red Wings, who also ousted Phoenix in seven games during the first round of the 2010 postseason. Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist for Detroit, which got a goal apiece from Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall and suffered no shortage of offense despite the absences of Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Wholesale NFL Jerseys USA .J. Ward appeared in court Friday on misdemeanour charges that he threw a glass mug at a bartender at a Denver strip club.LUCERNE, Switzerland - Josip Drmics emergence as Switzerlands best source of World Cup goals continued Friday, striking late in a 1-0 warmup win over Jamaica. The Bayer Leverkusen forwards assured finish with the outside of his right foot in the 84th minute marked his third goal in two international friendlies this year. Drmic, a halftime substitute, earlier shot over a gaping goal from three meters (yards). He also forced Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake into a diving save from a rising shot. Switzerland improved after a lacklustre first half, when coach Ottmar Hitzfeld started with only five players from his likely World Cup lineup. The Swiss host Peru next Tuesday before travelling to Brazil. Switzerland opens its Group E program against Ecuador on June 15 in Brasilia, then pplays France and Honduras.dddddddddddd Drmic has staked a late claim to be Switzerlands lead attacker after also scoring twice in a 2-2 draw against Croatia, another World Cup team, in March. After Napoli teammates Gokhan Inler and Blerim Dzemaili linked well in midfield, Drmic timed his run into the penalty box, faked to shoot and moved inside to flick his shot past Blake. Hitzfeld began with Haris Seferovic leading the line but the Real Sociedad forward rarely threatened. Blake, the Philadelphia Union keeper, saved well when Swiss right-back Stephan Lichtsteiners cross was deflected in the 22nd, and again from the right-backs close-range shot in the 70th. Dzemaili and Admir Mehmedi both went close with rising shots when advancing in the inside left channel. ' ' '