two in a row as he also birdied

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CHARLESTON, S. Toronto Raptors Pro Shop .C. -- Andrea Petkovic remembered why she started playing tennis and along the way gave everyone else a reminder about how talented she is when shes at her best. The 26-year-old from Germany, who fell from ninth in the world in 2011 to 177th two years later, capped a stunning run to the Family Circle Cup title on Sunday, Petkovics first win in three years. She outlasted Jana Cepelova 7-5, 6-2 in the finals. "I just wanted to get back to why I started playing tennis, because I had fun playing it and because I love the sport," said Petkovic, whose progresses was slowed by several injuries that cost her much of 2012. The climb back was painful at times. Petkovic wanted to quit the game after falling in French Open qualifying last year and wondered if shed ever feel success at the sport again. So she decided to play for fun and not for the wins. "I just needed to remind myself and it came together this week, and Im very thrilled about that," she said. Petkovic entered this one seeded 14th, ranked 40th in the world and with few expectations about her first clay-court event of the season. Instead, Petkovics powerful forehand and grind-it-out mindset helped her oust three straight top 10 seeds in No. 4 Sabine Lisicki, No. 9 Lucie Safarova and No. 6 Eugenie Bouchard on the way to the finals. Petkovic used that same formula against Cepelova, a rising 20-year-old from Slovakia competing in her first WTA final. Cepelova led 5-4 and was a point away from capturing the first set. But Petkovic rallied to win that game and begin a run of eight in a row to take control of the match. "I have to let loose and play like I can," she told herself. Petkovic was energized after winning the crucial game and quickly broke serve to move in front. She took the set a game later and continued her run to build a 5-0 lead that Cepelova could not overcome. For Petkovic, the victory was more gratifying than her two other career WTA wins because of all her struggles. This "is a different feeling," she said. "Now, Im much more grateful. Its more rewarding." Petkovic dropped to the ground when Cepelovas final shot landed out of play. She jogged to the net to hug her opponent, waved to the crowd and did a celebration dance as fans applauded. She let her fun side shine through all week. She joked in postgame comments she might get a bit crazy on the flight back home, dancing with flight attendants and drinking champagne from her latest trophy. "Im going to have champagne and I dont even drink champagne," she said. "But Im going to have it for the heck of it." Petkovic earned $120,000 for her third career WTA victory, which was her first since winning in Strasbourg in 2011. Petkovics victory closed a week of surprises at the Family Circle Tennis Center. Only one of the tournaments top 10 seeds made it through to the final four and it was the first time a WTA tournament included three semifinalists 20 years old or younger since Amelia Island in 2008. Cepelova had a stunning run of her own, topping world No. 1 Serena Williams on Tuesday night to set the stage for plenty more unexpected results. Cepelova became the Family Circle Cups first unseeded finalist since Elena Vesnina in 2011. Cepelova didnt expect a long visit here, arriving without her coach, trainers and hitting partners. She typically ordered room service at the hotel and had to scrape around to find hitting partners to warm up before matches. "Before the tournament, if somebody told me youll be in the tournament finals I would not believe them," Cepelova said with a smile. "But it was a really nice week." Cepelova is also projected to move up some 30 spots in the rankings to around 50th in the world when the new list comes out next week, the WTA said. Petkovic won the title in her second appearance here. She had reached the round of 16 last year, but had to withdraw from a match against Caroline Wozniacki. She was on the phone with her father, Zoran, after the win. Father and daughter now have Palmetto State success in common. Zoran Petkovic was one of the leading singles players at the University of South Carolina in the early 1980s. He told his daughter stories of how Americans on campus loved wearing "cowboy boots and blue jeans," she recalled, laughing. "He was very happy, very emotional," Andrea Petkovic said of their phone call. "I dont know if he was tearing up, though." Fake Raptors Jerseys . The third baseman whipped the ball across the diamond to second baseman Aaron Hill. He quickly tossed it to shortstop Chris Owings, who flipped over his shoulder to left fielder Cody Ross. Custom Toronto Raptors Jerseys . On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one. https://www.cheapraptors.com/ . The 29-year-old Mills started three games for Oakland this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.41 earned-run average. He opened the season appearing in 14 games and making 12 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers triple-A affiliate in Nashville, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.Shanghai, China - Marcel Siem chipped in for birdie on the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat Ross Fisher and Alexander Levy and win the BMW Masters. Siem closed with a 1-over 73 in windy conditions to finish at 16-under-par 272. Fisher was the first one to post minus-16 as he fired a 5-under 67. Levy, the first- and third-round leader, stumbled to a 6-over 78 in the final round to drop into the extra session. The trio returned to the 18th at Lake Malaren Golf Club for the playoff. Levy and Fisher found the green with their approach shots, but Siem missed the putting surface. Siem chipped in for birdie, which was just the second birdie of the day at the final hole. Neither Fisher nor Levy could match Siems birdie to give the German his fourth European Tour title. I still cant believe it. It was really tough out there. I felt I had a chance ... I knew down the stretch, with this wind direction, it was going to be tough, Siem stated. I like sudden death. Ive won three tournaments that way. Its a different pressure. I like that pressure better than having a putt on the 72nd hole. Im super happy. Justin Rose (72) and Jamie Donaldson (75) shared fourth place at 15-under-par 273. Romain Wattel (70) and Nicolas Colsaerts (71) were one stroke back at minus-14. Fisher was four groups ahead of Siem and Levy. Fisher got off to a fast start as he birdied the first three holes. After a pair of pars, he notched back-to- back birdies at six and seven to move to 16-under, but he was still five shotts off the pace. Raptors Jerseys 2020. The Englishman tripped to a bogey at the 12th, but erased that mistake with a birdie on the 15th. Fisher started the day 11 strokes off the pace and if he won, he would have set the European Tour record of biggest comeback victory. Fisher parred the last three holes to get into the playoff, then failed to earn the title in the extra session. Siem and Levy were together in the final group. Levy was five ahead of his playing partner to start the round, but that margin was quickly down to three as Siem birdied the first and Levy bogeyed the second. Both players birdied the par-5 seventh. Siem made it two in a row as he also birdied No. 8. Levy tripped to a bogey at the eighth and his lead was one. Levy made another bogey at the ninth to fall into a tie for the lead. Siem faltered to a bogey on the 10th, before he and Levy birdied No. 11. Siem made another bogey at 12 to dropped two back, but Levy struggled to a double-bogey on the 13th. Levy and Siem both bogeyed the 14th to remain tied for the lead at 18-under. Levy dropped shots at 16 and 18, while Siem bogeyed the final two holes as they fell into the playoff. NOTES: Siem, who won for the third straight season on the European Tour, earned 1,666,600 euros for the victory ... Siem has come from behind to win three of his four titles ... The European Tour will remain in China next week for the WGC - HSBC Champions, which Dustin Johnson won last year. Johnson will not defend his title. ' ' '