hutout on Saturday in a 1-0 win. "I thought it was a home run, b

Certain scenarios are meant for certain people, and the one that has developed in Londons 02 Arena at the ATP World Tour Finals seems tailor made for Stan Wawrinka.Should Wawrinka beat No. 1 Andy Murray in straight sets Friday, and Kei Nishikori defeat 0-2 Marin Cilic, the year-end championships will be denied that much-anticipated showdown between Murray and Novak Djokovic. It would also open the door for Djokovic to reclaim the top ranking.In fact if this scenario transpires, Murray will be out of the tournament before the semifinals. Among the possibilities if that happens is a rematch of the Djokovic-Wawrinka US Open final.Early in the week, after Wawrinka plodded his way through a desultory first-round loss to Nishikori, the chances of something like this being in play were remote. Not any longer, especially in light of Wawrinkas display of firepower Wednesday evening in a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) win against Cilic.I think the level was really high, Wawrinka told reporters after that match. Im happy with many things tonight -- the way I was mentally on the court, the way I was moving. I think I was moving great. I had some good defense, some long rallies. I mixed a lot with my game in general.When Stan the Man, aka Stanimal, is living in HappiStan, its time for everyone else, including Djokovic, to be afraid. Thick as a linebacker, Wawrinka is bearish in more ways than one. He tends to hibernate for significant periods, but when he comes out of his den, and the scent of a nearby meal sets his nose quivering, its time to climb the nearest tree.Wawrinka has never been No. 1, but he can play like the No. 1. It tends to happen in critical matches on the biggest stages.Im very far from being No. 1, Wawrinka said for perhaps the 2,700th time at the pretournament news conference. Referring to tennis Big Four, he added, If you look at their records, theyre playing in the final of every tournament they play, so its not something Im thinking about now.But rest assured, Wawrinka is something theyre thinking about. He not only belted Djokovic off the court in the last US Open final, he ruined the same guys day in the French Open final of 2015.Wawrinka also hammered Murray in straight sets at the Tour Finals last year. Murray leads the head-to-head by a very slender 9-7 edge, but there is so much pressure on him in London that he might have to take hits off an oxygen tank instead of a sports drink on changeovers when he plays Wawrinka.Pundits have tried to shoehorn Wawrinka into the Big Four ever since he belted his way to the 2014 Australian Open title (he beat Djokovic in the quarters and Rafael Nadal in the final), then backed it up during the ensuing months. Some have tried to expand the quartet into a Big Five including Wawrinka, but hell be the first to shun the honor. Hes humble and realistic. Hes also a creature who needs to hibernate.Besides, life is much more fun in HappiStan if Wawrinka can avoid the pressures and hassles that accompany everyday life. Wawrinka has a deft way of staying under the radar despite having, in every respect, the profile of a cargo plane.Nobody has taken Wawrinka very seriously at this tournament, and thats somewhat understandable. He won just one match in two fall Masters 1000 events. The only bright spot after that stunning upset of Djokovic in Arthur Ashe Stadium was a final in Moscow, where Wawrinka lost that to ATP #nextgen upstart Alexander Zverev.The sluggish opener against Nishikori in the O2 suggested that sometime in early October, Wawrinka decided to just mail it in. But its a mistaken assumption. This is just Wawrinkas way. He showed Wednesday that he hasnt licked and stamped the envelope just yet.Im here to try to enjoy, Wawrinka said, tacitly acknowledging that he doesnt want to fire expectations -- or put pressure on himself. Its still always a dream for me to be here. Im trying to enjoy; Im trying to do the right thing; Im trying to fight as much as I can to stay alive on the tournament.Because of his build, Wawrinka is only as good as his movement on that day. Thats a difficult factor to control. Wawrinka was moving poorly and mentally out of it Monday against perhaps the worst guy to face under those conditions, Nishikori.On Wednesday, the gum on his shoes turned into wheels. I know I can beat every player, Wawrinka said, when asked if he intends to compete for the top ranking now that applications are again being accepted. But I need to do it more often in the year if I want to think about that. But three Grand Slams in three years is something that I didnt expect. Im very happy with where I am now.Welcome to HappiStan. Beware if your name is Murray or Djokovic. Joe Dumars Pistons Jersey . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Dennis Rodman Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Derrick-Rose-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Bruce Brown Jr. Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Bruce Brown Jr. Pistons Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. MIAMI -- Ricky Nolasco followed his worst outing of the season with his best. It resulted in a rare win for the Miami Marlins. Nolasco struck out 11 and the Marlins stopped a season-high seven-game losing streak, holding off the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 Sunday. "Weve been playing close games, but it doesnt matter if you lose 10-0 or 2-1, you dont want to lose so it was good to snap that and try to get on a roll here," Nolasco said. The Diamondbacks scored once in the ninth. Mike Dunn, the Marlins third pitcher of the inning, got pinch-hitter A.J. Pollock to ground out on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded to end it. "Bend, but dont break, thats all that matters," Nolasco said. Marcell Ozuna broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the sixth. Didi Gregorius had three hits for Arizona, which had won four in a row. "Early in the game we had a few chances, but we couldnt get the big hit when we needed it and (Nolasco) got stronger," Gregorius said. Nolasco (3-5) was coming off an outing in which he allowed six runs in five innings in a loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday. "Ricky was great," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Coming off a shaky last start, but thats Ricky. Rickys been solid all year and I really wanted him to finish that game. He looked good and was in complete control." But the Marlins all-time wins leader bounced back with his best, earning his 79th career victory. He gave up one run and five hits in eight-plus innings. "I felt good, good command of all my pitches," Nolasco said. "The curve ball was really good so that really helped a lot. I was able to spin it pretty much whenever I wanted to." After hitting Cody Ross with a pitch in the fourth, Nolasco retired the next 14 batters, striking out the side in the fifth and again in the eighth. Gregorius led off the ninth with a double, finishing Nolascos day after 110 pitches, 74 for strikes. Closer Steve Cishek relieved got Paul Goldschmidt to ground out as second baseman Derek Dietrich made a backhanded play up the middle. Jason Kubel hit a sacrifice fly that mmade it 2-1.dddddddddddd "That was a huge play in the hole," Redmond said. After Eric Chavez followed with a pinch-hit single and Martin Prado walked, Dunn came in and walked Miguel Montero to load the bases. Dunn retired Pollock for his second career save. "We had a good finish and I thought we were in good shape with A.J. (Pollock) there," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "It just didnt work out." Wade Miley (3-3) gave up two runs and five hits in six innings while striking out six. He is 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins. "I felt good out there," Miley said. "I was making pitches and throwing strikes. Just a couple of bad pitches cost you late in the game, especially in a game like that where its 0-0. Youve got to do better job." With the game scoreless until the sixth, Adeiny Hechavarria and Dietrich singled and Ozuna hit a double off the left-centre field wall near the 386-foot sign. It snapped a scoreless inning streak for the Marlins at 14 after Brandon McCarthy tossed a three-hit shutout on Saturday in a 1-0 win. "I thought it was a home run, but its OK, a double, Ill take it," Ozuna said. Ozuna, a 22-year-old rookie outfielder, is hitting .295 since being called up on April 30. After getting nine runs on 16 hits in a series-opening 9-2 win on Friday, Arizona scored just two runs on 10 hits in the final two games. "We got beat around a little bit, but we were able to pitch some really nice games the last couple of days," Redmond said. NOTES: Arizona pulled off a rare 2-1 putout in eighth when Hechavarria popped up a bunt that bounced off catcher Monteros glove and then corralled by pitcher Josh Collmenter after he bobbled it with his barehand. ... Nolascos career high for strikeouts in a game is 16 at Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2009. ... Arizona continues its road trip at Colorado on Monday as LHP Patrick Corbin (6-1, 1.52 ERA) faces RHP Jon Garland (3-4, 4.89 ERA). Miami will start RHP Alex Sanabia (2-6, 5.00 ERA) at home against Philadelphia LHP Cole Hamels (1-6, 4.61 ERA). ' ' '