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NEW YORK -- You get just five precious minutes. Five minutes to hit tennis balls on the court where youre about to play a match that could win you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and the chance for even more riches at the tournament -- or could send you to the airport.Five minutes to feel the depth, spin and speed of your opponents shots, in the wind, sun and humidity youre about to contend with. Five minutes to practice every type of shot you might have to hit, some of them dozens or hundreds of times: serves, forehands, backhands.Yet just about every pro spends at least half of those five precious minutes standing near the net, hitting the ball out of the air -- something he or, especially, she might do more in those five minutes of warm-ups than in the actual match.Tennis players dont come to net in matches as much as they used to, and some essentially dont do it at all of their own volition, though they might find themselves up there unwillingly after retrieving an opponents drop shot. Yet even the most dedicated baseliner hits about 15 volleys and smashes during warm-ups.Even Angelique Kerber, the world No. 2, who won the Australian Open and is a semifinalist here at the US Open.Sometimes you [are] going to the net, Kerber said after her fourth-round match against Petra Kvitova, a match in which Kerber went to net on just eight points, winning four. When you know you have a little bit [of] warm-up in the net its actually better for your [confidence]. Im not going too often to the net, but still its good to know that you hit during your practice [a] few balls there.Kerber played a lower percentage of her points at the net than just about any of the other 32 men and women who reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Open: just 5.6 percent through her first three matches. Not every match is scored, and counting can be inconsistent, because of the subjective nature of stat-keeping in tennis. Nonetheless, the naked eye and Kerber herself confirm that she rarely chooses to come to net. That didnt change much against Kvitova (6.1 percent).Venus Williams, who lost in the fourth round, played at net more frequently than most of her peers in the tournament.Some people come in just to shake hands and do the coin toss, she said. Im not one of those people.The seven-time major singles champ pointed out that slow courts and advanced racket strings make it easier for players to hit shots past opponents at the net. Kerber is much better at hitting passing shots than she is at cutting them off.Men generally go to net more often than women, in part because their bigger serves and topspin-laden ground strokes can push opponents back farther behind the baseline, and in part because their longer wingspans make it harder to hit over or around them.The frequency of net approaches varies widely among the men. British 21-year-old Kyle Edmund is among the least likely to come to net, and when he did in his fourth-round match against No. 1 Novak Djokovic, it often started with a Djokovic drop shot and ended with a missed or misplayed Edmund volley. Edmund won just 7 of 19 points at net.How many net shots players take in warm-ups seems to have little correlation to how often they venture to the net during matches. I counted warm-up net shots for 20 different players for 13 matches during the Open. And 70 percent of the players averaged between 13 and 17 net shots during warm-ups, typically dividing them up something like five forehand volleys, five backhand volleys and four smashes. (Theyd hit backhand smashes only when their opponents lobs went to the wrong side of the court.)Karolina Pliskova, who rarely goes to net, averaged nine net shots during warm-ups, while Serena Williams, who has been coming to net more this year, averaged 23. One sign that frequency of net points during matches has little to do with how much of their warm-ups players devote to net shots: Men averaged exactly as many warm-up net shots as women.Former pro and ESPN commentator Brad Gilbert pointed out in an interview that golfers dont warm up: They just play. Hed like to see tennis players do the same.You come to the court, do the coin toss, whoever wins, start play, Gilbert said. Nobody comes out on the court cold.His broadcasting colleague, 18-time major singles champ Chris Evert, said she used to take about 30 seconds warming up at net. Her rival Martina Navratilova, who played much more at net than Evert did, would use a minute and a half at net. (American teenager Taylor Townsend, whose net game is a throwback, starts her warm-ups at the net rather than the baseline.)Evert said she thinks even Kerber types should practice volleys during warm-ups.It gives you a quicker reaction, Evert said. You see the ball quicker.There are lots of other reasons to practice net shots, too. Players who dont choose to come to net much might get drawn forward by their opponents, like Kerber was by Roberta Vinci with drop shots in their quarterfinal on Tuesday. (Kerber ended up winning 7 of 13 net points.) And showing you can hit competent smashes might help dissuade your opponent from throwing up lobs whenever theyre out of position.Even Evert, who encourages everyone to warm up their volleys, reminds pros not to skimp on warm-up serves.The serve is the most important thing to practice. Air Jordan Retro 13 For Sale . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Retro Yellow . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. http://www.cheapretrojordans13.com/cheap-air-jordan-13-retro-orange/ . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Retro Grey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Retro All Pink .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. HOOVER, Ala. -- In a story July 11 about issues in the Southeastern Conference, The Associated Press reported erroneously that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said this about potential guidelines on time demands for college athletes: I know that we will have continuing conversations around those issues. I wont predict outcomes. And well see if that leads to a statement, first from this conference, and if we collectively should say things. I think that might be the next step. Sankey was talking about potential eligibility standards for incoming recruits with serious misconduct issues.A corrected version of the story is below:SECs Greg Sankey: `We weep, we mourn for shooting victimsSoutheastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey scrapped much of his planned speech at the leagues annual media days to decry the wave of shootings across the countryBy DAVID BRANDTAP Sports WriterHOOVER, Ala. -- Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey scrapped much of his planned speech at the leagues annual media days to decry the wave of shootings across the country.This is one of those times in our nation where we weep, we mourn, for those families and cities who have experienced loss, Sankey said.Sankey said the shooting in Dallas that killed five police officers was particularly personal because he lived in the city for 11 years. One of the SECs schools, LSU, is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which is where Alton Sterling was killed by police after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers.He hoped the SEC -- and sports in general -- could provide a bridge in understanding during social strife.Sports brings people together, Sankey said. I think our universities do as well, and we need to be mindful and attentive to that reality and the opportunities associated with that reality.Vanderbilt linebacker Oren Burks agreed that football gives athletes a unique platform.I feel that its terrible to see innocent people killed for no reason, Burks said. Whether its African-Americans or cops, it doesnt matter. We need to have a sense of honor and respect for human life. I feel like thats basically all that needs to be said.Sankey also paid tribute to the late Pat Summitt. Tennesssees Hall of Fame womens basketball coach died last month at 64, more than five years after being diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimers type.ddddddddddddPat was a pillar of the Southeastern Conference, Sankey said. Shes on par with many of the great names, may have set the standard for all of the great names that are a part of this conference. Her impact is felt every day in the lives of the young people she mentored.The leagues 14 teams will conduct interviews throughout the week in Hoover.Here are some other league issues that Sankey addressed on Monday:- Sankey said he believes the league is doing very well in NCAA rules compliance, noting that in August, there was no league school under NCAA probation for the first time since 1984.But with Mississippi and Missouri both under current NCAA investigation, thats likely to change soon.We hope both of the current matters are completed in a timely manner, Sankey said. We understand there are issues that arise. Thats why the expectation for integrity is so high. And as we move forward together, we cant have any more of those issues.- The commissioner said he wasnt sure if the Power Five conferences, including the ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12, would come together to issue some sort of eligibility guidelines for incoming recruits with serious misconduct issues.I know that we will have continuing conversations around those issues, Sankey said. I wont predict outcomes. And well see if that leads to a statement, first from this conference, and if we collectively should say things. I think that might be the next step.- The commissioner paid tribute to several other longtime SEC figures who have recently announced their retirement, including Florida and South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier, and Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley.Sankey also praised longtime broadcaster Verne Lundquist, whose last season calling SEC games will be this fall.-----Visit the APs college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org .---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '