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MANILA, Philippines - Serena Williams made a much-awaited appearance at the franchise-based International Premier Tennis League on Sunday but could not lift Singapore Slammers as her team succumbed to a third straight defeat in the first leg.It wasnt easy but I had a lot of fun, the top-ranked Williams said after playing against home team Manila Mavericks in front of a lively crowd of 12,000 at the Mall of Asia Arena. I love the team atmosphere. If you lose a match, everyone is still positive and thats what I love about it.Williams, who did not play on the opening two days, defeated Manila Mavericks Kirsten Flipkens 6-3 in the womens singles but lost the mixed doubles partnering Lleyton Hewitt as Andy Murray and Flipkens combined better for a 6-1 win.Manila Mavericks beat Singapore Slammers 27-19 in the new fast-paced team format in which results are decided by aggregating games won from five one-set matches — mens and womens singles, mens doubles, mixed doubles and legends singles - rather than the match results.Murray, who helped garner the first victory in three matches for Manila Mavericks, will not be available for the remaining three legs of the $1 million event to be played in Singapore, New Delhi and Dubai.The team on a roll was the Indian Aces, which won all three matches despite the absence of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras in this leg.Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic are other prominent past and present players who feature in different legs of the tournament.The IPTL format consists of one-set matches that can be decided by a four-minute shootout at 5-5 rather than the traditional tiebreaker.There are also power points which give players a chance to double up on a point in each match nominated before receiving serve. Other novelties include time-outs and doing away with advantage points. Marcus Davenport Saints Jersey . The NFL announced Friday that the Texans sixth-year veteran offensive lineman will replace Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters in the Jan. Sam Mills Saints Jersey . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. http://www.authenticsaintssportsonline.com/saints-morten-andersen-gold-jersey/ .J. -- The NHL reduced its penalty against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for signing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010. Taysom Hill Youth Jersey . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series. Marcus Davenport Youth Jersey . Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 12th-ranked Isner fought off two match points and evened it at 5-5 with consecutive aces. The former University of Georgia star had his only service break of the match to go up 6-5 before firing the last four of his 30 aces to close out Ginepri, an Atlanta resident ranked 281st.MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Washingtons Bradley Beal seemed to make every shot he took in setting a career high with 37 points. But then, with the game on the line, he struggled down the stretch. Nick Calathes and Marc Gasol scored 18 points each, and the Memphis Grizzlies survived Beals big night to defeat the Wizards 92-89 on Tuesday night. Beal finished the night converting 15 of 24 shots, but was unable to connect in the closing minutes. He missed five of his last six shots, including a 21-footer with 12.9 seconds left that would have tied the game. "The past few games, I was too worried about my defender," Beal said. "As soon as I saw the first couple go in, it was a wrap after that. My confidence was high, and I just kept shooting the ball the same way every time. "I was having fun." Zach Randolph split two free throws with 11.5 seconds left to give the Grizzlies the 92-89 lead. John Walls 3-pointer for the tie with about 1 second left rattled around before popping out, giving Memphis the win. "We were supposed to hand it back to John," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said of the final play. "Bradley was going to flare for a three, but we didnt get the hand off back to John." Randolph, Courtney Lee and James Johnson scored 13 apiece for Memphis, and Randolph grabbed 10 rebounds. Calathes, who started his sixth straight game because of an ankle injury to starting point guard Mike Conley, also had six assists for the Grizzlies. "Nick Calathes is playing great," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "He makes some mistakes, but I have the ball in his hands and 98 per cent of the time, he makes the right play and the right pass. What hes doing right now in leading this ballclub is absolutely tremendous." Nene had 17 points for the Wizards, while Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat added 10 points each. Wall, who entered the game averaging a team-best 20.1 points, was limited to a season-low five points, making only 2 of 10 shots, missing all four attempts from outside the arc..dddddddddddd. "Its terrible that you waste a game like that from (them)," Wittman said of Beal and Nene, particularly citing Nene holding Randolph to 4 of 11 shooting and forcing the Grizzlies forward into five turnovers. "As well as Nene was playing Zach Randolph in the post, its too bad you waste efforts like that." Memphis pushed the lead to 16 near the 9-minute mark of the third quarter on a 3-pointer from Tayshaun Prince. But Washington, with Beal continuing to score and Gortat contributing 10 in the quarter, went on a 20-8 burst to make a serious dent in the Memphis margin. "Obviously, Bradley Beal hits a lot of great shots," Joerger said. "Courtney (Lee) trailed him and bothered him. James (Johnson) trailed him and bothered him. The guy made tough shots." By the end of the third, Memphis had added a few points to its remaining lead carrying a 79-70 lead into the fourth. The Wizards were able to pull even at 80 with 6:52 left when Beals 14-footer, pushed him past his previous career high of 34. Beal was the major part of the 12-1 Wizards run to give them an 82-80 lead on Nenes 17-footer with 5:46 left. Memphis answered with a 7-2 mini-run to put the Grizzlies up for good, although each team made mistakes in the closing minutes. "We kept the ball on one side, and they just loaded up," Gasol said of Washingtons second-half defence. "We would average two, three passes and played too far away from the basket. We let them do what they wanted to do defensively and made it easy on them. "But we got away with a win." NOTES: Conley missed his sixth straight game with a bum right ankle. The Grizzlies are now 3-3 since his injury. ... Beals previous high was 34 points against Oklahoma City on Nov. 10. ... Johnson recorded his 16th block of a 3-pointer this season near the end of the first half. ... The Wizards have lost nine straight in Memphis and havent won a road game in the series since Nov. 3, 2004, the night of the first regular-season game the Grizzlies played at FedExForum. ' ' '