With an impressive showing as a member of Canadas Fed Cup team over the weekend, Blainville, Quebecs Aleksandra Wozniak reflects on her play and her preparation for Roland Garros in her personal blog on RDS.ca and TSN.ca. --- We took advantage of the opportunity to advance to World Group I at the Fed Cup for the first time in history by beating Slovakia last weekend, so were off to play next season as one of eight finalists in February! Playing at PEPS Stadium at Laval University, the facility was expanded to accommodate 3,500 people. While the stands werent completely filled as they were in Montreal last February, that didnt hold back the great atmosphere. People were encouraging us, shouting out our names and having fun on each point (though I had a very long match where I had to battle until the very end). My family and my friends were also among the crowd and it was really fun to learn as much as I did there. It wasnt just about me as I was playing - it was about playing for my country and all of those watching. The viewing public is important and I dont want to disappoint them, but I wasnt really dwelling on that kind of pressure at the time. I tried to stay in the present moment and simply enjoy the energy to try to give a good show and play a good game. Its always very important to do my best to win. People were just happy to be there and support us and it made for a crazy weekend! Just before the tournament, we spent several days training together in Quebec City and we had our official team dinner on Thursday night. We also took the time to work with Iris Setlakwe, as the fashion designer helped dress us for this special event (as was the case a couple of months ago in Montreal). We also got acquainted with other players and sponsors - a tradition followed by every delegation during the Fed Cup. It was also at this time that we did our traditional gift exchange. Our gift for the Slovaks - maple syrup! Never Give Up It was a bit hard early on in my opening match when I lost the first set. Jana Cepelova, ranked 52nd in the world, was very tough and had lots of confidence after a strong performance in Charleston. This is a player who went to the net a lot and never hit the same ball. Shes already beaten good players like Serena Williams and has the ability to change speeds during a point. She can make three rhythm changes by alternating her slice, or cushioning her forehand before suddenly attacking with lots of force and precision in the corners. Its not easy to guage a girl like this, as she was very gifted. That being said, it was necessary for me to raise my game up a notch and find my pace to reverse the trend. As this was the first time I was facing Cepelova, I was trying to get a read on her game at the start. It took me a little while, because it was not easy adjusting to the ball. I was hooked as I tried to avoid my earlier mistakes while trying to force errors. In short, it was a physical and mental challenge, coming back twice - in the second and third sets - as she was serving for the match. And that first victory on Day 1 was very important to set the tone for the competition. And all this time, captain Sylvain Bruneau was at my side to motivate me, telling me to remember what I should do and to always be alert. Its good to have the opportunity to rely on a coach and his advice during a match. In other tournaments, you cant ask for that much help so frequently. Finally, my next next Grand Slam stop is at Roland Garros. The challenge will be to adapt to the change from hard surface to clay. Ill be in full preparation this week in Montreal, playing on the clay courts of Uniprix Stadium at Jarry Park. Ill then fly off to Cagnes-sur-Mer in France, for the qualifications next week and then make a stop in Prague before the qualifications for the Internationaux de France - which begins on May 21. https://www.facebook.com/WozAlekshttp://...iak.com/Twitter @alekswoz Fake Jerseys For Sale . Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. Jerseys For Sale . He left in the 4th inning of Saturdays game against the Tigers after experiencing tightness. Reyes and the team still hope that he will be ready for Opening Day in Tampa Bay in one week. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/ . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . -- One shot came out of bottom of a cactus, the other from the base of a desert bush with rocks scattered around it. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . -- Jake Peavy arrived at Bostons spring training complex on Monday with a large white bandage covering his left index finger, the result of a weekend accident.INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul George went into desperation mode to salvage the Pacers season. It was barely good enough. The 24-year-old All-Star scored 21 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter and inspired Indiana to fend off Miamis late challenges as the Pacers staved off playoff elimination with a 93-90 Game 5 victory on Wednesday night. "My message to the whole team was the light needs to be on green for all of us," coach Frank Vogel said. "You need to go, you need to attack, you need to be aggressive. Paul took it and ran with it and took it to a crazy level." The most crucial shooting performance of Georges career allowed the Pacers to climb within 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals and postponed Miamis fourth straight coronation as conference champs. Game 6 is Friday in Miami. It took everything in Georges repertoire to get it done. He was 12 of 19 from the field in the second half, finished with six rebounds, six steals, five 3-pointers and only three turnovers in 45 minutes. But the Pacers also needed everything else to go right. Four-time MVP LeBron James was limited to 24 1/2 minutes because of major foul trouble. He finished with a career playoff-low seven points, two rebounds and four assists. The Heat committed 17 turnovers, compared to just 13 for the usually turnover-prone Pacers, and Indiana had a 45-38 rebounding edge, too. The biggest difference was George, whose 21 fourth-quarter points were the most scored against Miami in any playoff quarter. The previous record, 20, was set by Michael Jordan in May 1997. "I just felt it. I felt in rhythm. I had to be aggressive," George said. "I tried to come out and be aggressive to start this game off and I was getting looks. I got hot." George fell just short of his playoff career high, the 39 he had in Game 4 against Washington in the previous series, and was just four points short of Reggie Millers franchise record in an NBA playoff game. For Miami, it was a rare stumble in an elimination game in the Big Three era. Three other times, the Heat had lost Game 1 on the road and all three times they won the next four games to close out the series. The Heat were in position to do it again Wednesday even with James limitations. Chris Bosh scored 20 points, Dwyane Wade and Rashard Lewis each had 18, and the Heat made 15 of 31 3-pointers to stay within clinching distance. After holding the Pacers to 11 points in the second quarteer, only 33 in the first half and surviving two long first-half stretches without James, the Heat couldnt hold off the Pacers when James went to the bench again with his fifth foul early in the third quarter.dddddddddddd Yet, the Heat still had a chance to take the lead with 4.9 seconds left. But Boshs 3-pointer was off the mark and the Pacers grabbed the rebound. "We still had enough opportunities to come away with a win," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We just couldnt get over the hump." Hard falls and tough plays were a theme all night for a Pacers team that had been roundly criticized for its lack of effort in Monday nights loss. Lance Stephenson took it a step farther. At one point, he attempted to listen in on one of Miamis huddle. At another, he blew in James ear. "Im just here to play basketball, man. All the extracurricular activities, I dont really get into," James said. "Im just trying to win. We need one more win to get to the finals. Thats my only concern. All the extra stuff, whatever Lance wants to do, I dont really care about that." It looked like the Heat might clinch their fourth straight conference title Wednesday, something last done by the Celtics from 1984-87, when the Pacers trailed 50-41 with 6:56 left in the third quarter. ThenWith an impressive showing as a member of Canadas Fed Cup team over the weekend, Blainville, Quebecs Aleksandra Wozniak reflects on her play and her preparation for Roland Garros in her personal blog on RDS.ca and TSN.ca. --- We took advantage of the opportunity to advance to World Group I at the Fed Cup for the first time in history by beating Slovakia last weekend, so were off to play next season as one of eight finalists in February! Playing at PEPS Stadium at Laval University, the facility was expanded to accommodate 3,500 people. While the stands werent completely filled as they were in Montreal last February, that didnt hold back the great atmosphere. People were encouraging us, shouting out our names and having fun on each point (though I had a very long match where I had to battle until the very end). My family and my friends were also among the crowd and it was really fun to learn as much as I did there. It wasnt just about me as I was playing - it was about playing for my country and all of those watching. The viewing public is important and I dont want to disappoint them, but I wasnt really dwelling on that kind of pressure at the time. I tried to stay in the present moment and simply enjoy the energy to try to give a good show and play a good game. Its always very important to do my best to win. People were just happy to be there and support us and it made for a crazy weekend! Just before the tournament, we spent several days training together in Quebec City and we had our official team dinner on Thursday night. We also took the time to work with Iris Setlakwe, as the fashion designer helped dress us for this special event (as was the case a couple of months ago in Montreal). We also got acquainted with other players and sponsors - a tradition followed by every delegation during the Fed Cup. It was also at this time that we did our traditional gift exchange. Our gift for the Slovaks - maple syrup! Never Give Up It was a bit hard early on in my opening match when I lost the first set. Jana Cepelova, ranked 52nd in the world, was very tough and had lots of confidence after a strong performance in Charleston. This is a player who went to the net a lot and never hit the same ball. Shes already beaten good players like Serena Williams and has the ability to change speeds during a point. She can make three rhythm changes by alternating her slice, or cushioning her forehand before suddenly attacking with lots of force and precision in the corners. Its not easy to guage a girl like this, as she was very gifted. That being said, it was necessary for me to raise my game up a notch and find my pace to reverse the trend. As this was the first time I was facing Cepelova, I was trying to get a read on her game at the start. It took me a little while, because it was not easy adjusting to the ball. I was hooked as I tried to avoid my earlier mistakes while trying to force errors. In short, it was a physical and mental challenge, coming back twice - in the second and third sets - as she was serving for the match. And that first victory on Day 1 was very important to set the tone for the competition. And all this time, captain Sylvain Bruneau was at my side to motivate me, telling me to remember what I should do and to always be alert. Its good to have the opportunity to rely on a coach and his advice during a match. In other tournaments, you cant ask for that much help so frequently. Finally, my next next Grand Slam stop is at Roland Garros. The challenge will be to adapt to the change from hard surface to clay. Ill be in full preparation this week in Montreal, playing on the clay courts of Uniprix Stadium at Jarry Park. Ill then fly off to Cagnes-sur-Mer in France, for the qualifications next week and then make a stop in Prague before the qualifications for the Internationaux de France - which begins on May 21. https://www.facebook.com/WozAlekshttp://...iak.com/Twitter @alekswoz Fake Jerseys For Sale . Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. Jerseys For Sale . He left in the 4th inning of Saturdays game against the Tigers after experiencing tightness. Reyes and the team still hope that he will be ready for Opening Day in Tampa Bay in one week. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/ . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . -- One shot came out of bottom of a cactus, the other from the base of a desert bush with rocks scattered around it. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . -- Jake Peavy arrived at Bostons spring training complex on Monday with a large white bandage covering his left index finger, the result of a weekend accident.INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul George went into desperation mode to salvage the Pacers season. It was barely good enough. The 24-year-old All-Star scored 21 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter and inspired Indiana to fend off Miamis late challenges as the Pacers staved off playoff elimination with a 93-90 Game 5 victory on Wednesday night. "My message to the whole team was the light needs to be on green for all of us," coach Frank Vogel said. "You need to go, you need to attack, you need to be aggressive. Paul took it and ran with it and took it to a crazy level." The most crucial shooting performance of Georges career allowed the Pacers to climb within 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals and postponed Miamis fourth straight coronation as conference champs. Game 6 is Friday in Miami. It took everything in Georges repertoire to get it done. He was 12 of 19 from the field in the second half, finished with six rebounds, six steals, five 3-pointers and only three turnovers in 45 minutes. But the Pacers also needed everything else to go right. Four-time MVP LeBron James was limited to 24 1/2 minutes because of major foul trouble. He finished with a career playoff-low seven points, two rebounds and four assists. The Heat committed 17 turnovers, compared to just 13 for the usually turnover-prone Pacers, and Indiana had a 45-38 rebounding edge, too. The biggest difference was George, whose 21 fourth-quarter points were the most scored against Miami in any playoff quarter. The previous record, 20, was set by Michael Jordan in May 1997. "I just felt it. I felt in rhythm. I had to be aggressive," George said. "I tried to come out and be aggressive to start this game off and I was getting looks. I got hot." George fell just short of his playoff career high, the 39 he had in Game 4 against Washington in the previous series, and was just four points short of Reggie Millers franchise record in an NBA playoff game. For Miami, it was a rare stumble in an elimination game in the Big Three era. Three other times, the Heat had lost Game 1 on the road and all three times they won the next four games to close out the series. The Heat were in position to do it again Wednesday even with James limitations. Chris Bosh scored 20 points, Dwyane Wade and Rashard Lewis each had 18, and the Heat made 15 of 31 3-pointers to stay within clinching distance. After holding the Pacers to 11 points in the second quarteer, only 33 in the first half and surviving two long first-half stretches without James, the Heat couldnt hold off the Pacers when James went to the bench again with his fifth foul early in the third quarter.dddddddddddd Yet, the Heat still had a chance to take the lead with 4.9 seconds left. But Boshs 3-pointer was off the mark and the Pacers grabbed the rebound. "We still had enough opportunities to come away with a win," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We just couldnt get over the hump." Hard falls and tough plays were a theme all night for a Pacers team that had been roundly criticized for its lack of effort in Monday nights loss. Lance Stephenson took it a step farther. At one point, he attempted to listen in on one of Miamis huddle. At another, he blew in James ear. "Im just here to play basketball, man. All the extracurricular activities, I dont really get into," James said. "Im just trying to win. We need one more win to get to the finals. Thats my only concern. All the extra stuff, whatever Lance wants to do, I dont really care about that." It looked like the Heat might clinch their fourth straight conference title Wednesday, something last done by the Celtics from 1984-87, when the Pacers trailed 50-41 with 6:56 left in the third quarter. Then George took over. He started an 11-0 run with a layup and ended it with a steal that he turned into a dunk to give the Pacers a 52-50 lead. Miami quickly tied it on Udonis Haslems layup, but George answered with a 3-pointer that sent the Pacers on a 12-5 run to make it 64-57 after three. Indiana extended the lead to as much as 77-66 early in the fourth on another George dunk, but when James re-entered, things changed. The Heat scored nine straight to make it 77-75, tied it at 81 on James only 3 of the night with 3:51 to play and twice managed to get within one in the final 76 seconds. George then hit a 3 and West made 1 of 2 free throws in the closing seconds to seal it. Notes: James scored in single digits for the first time since finishing with eight against Dallas on June 7, 2011. Hes only scored in single digits 10 times in his career. ... Roy Hibbert, who had only five rebounds in Game 4, had five in the first seven minutes Wednesday and finished with 13. ... Miami shot 45.3 per cent from the field, the first time its been under 50 per cent in the series. ... The Pacers were 13 of 22 from the free-throw line while Miami was 7 of 8. ' ' 'arted an 11-0 run with a layup and ended it with a steal that he turned into a dunk to give the Pacers a 52-50 lead. Miami quickly tied it on Udonis Haslems layup, but George answered with a 3-pointer that sent the Pacers on a 12-5 run to make it 64-57 after three. Indiana extended the lead to as much as 77-66 early in the fourth on another George dunk, but when James re-entered, things changed. The Heat scored nine straight to make it 77-75, tied it at 81 on James only 3 of the night with 3:51 to play and twice managed to get within one in the final 76 seconds. George then hit a 3 and West made 1 of 2 free throws in the closing seconds to seal it. Notes: James scored in single digits for the first time since finishing with eight against Dallas on June 7, 2011. Hes only scored in single digits 10 times in his career. ... Roy Hibbert, who had only five rebounds in Game 4, had five in the first seven minutes Wednesday and finished with 13. ... Miami shot 45.3 per cent from the field, the first time its been under 50 per cent in the series. ... The Pacers were 13 of 22 from the free-throw line while Miami was 7 of 8. ' ' '