Its another measure of how tough it is to just get into the Olympic tr

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Top-ranked Rafael Nadal survived a scare at the Rio Open on Saturday, fighting off two match points before defeating fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10) to advance to the final. Nadal will next face Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, who upset second-seeded David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 on Rios outdoor clay. Nadal has been almost unbeatable on clay in his career, compiling a 297-21 record, the best in the Open era. His last loss on the surface was 10 months ago against Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters. But this was not his night as he needed nearly three hours to defeat Andujar. Nadal is returning from a back injury he sustained in the final of the Australian Open four weeks ago -- a match he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka. "I felt empty the whole match," he said. "It was very humid, and this was the toughest day of all. I just didnt feel that great physically, and Im not talking about the back. I just didnt feel that great. "It was close because he played well, and I didnt play my best," Nadal added. Nadal acknowledged his victory was lucky. "The tiebreak was a lottery," he said. "But I played better in the tiebreak than the rest of the match." Andujar had two match points in the third-set tiebreaker but couldnt convert either. "I played one of the best matches of my life," he said. "Maybe the best. But I had a great one across (the net) from me." Dolgopolov, who had beaten Ferrer only once in seven previous matches, won handily and didnt flinch. "I always have these type matches with him, and usually at the end he would beat me," the Ukrainian said. "I knew Id have to make those shots. If you dont win the points against him, he takes it away. Im really happy I didnt get tight and give away a lot of shots." Dolgopolov has won two previous ATP titles. Ferrer won the Copa Claro last weekend in Buenos Aires, his third consecutive title in that clay-court event. He has 21 ATP titles. In the womens tournament, top-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic and fifth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan will face off in the final. Zakopalova defeated local hope Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1, and Nara won over Nastassja Burnett of Italy 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Zakopalova will be aiming for her third WTA singles title. She won two in 2004, and has since been a losing finalist 11 times. This will be Naras first WTA singles final. "Im very surprised because its on a clay court," said Nara, a university student who prefers hard courts. Asics Shoes Sale Online . A rainy day saw the former champion Djokovic handle 14th-seeded Frenchman Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) under the roof on the famed Centre Court. Asics Wholesale Uk . DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1:00 PM (ET) Detroit - G Rodney Austin, WR Ryan Broyles, DT Nick Fairley, QB Kellen Moore, DT Caraun Reid, CB Mohammed Seisay, DE Larry Webster Chicago - S Chris Conte, DT Brandon Dunn, QB David Fales, K Robbie Gould, CB Terrance Mitchell, OT Michael Ola, DE Trevor Scott GREEN BAY PACKERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Green Bay - LB Carl Bradford, DT Bruce Gaston, C Garth Gerhart, CB Davon House, WR Jeff Janis, TE Justin Perillo, QB Scott Tolzien Tampa Bay - OT Anthony Collins, CB Isaiah Frey, WR Robert Herron, RB Mike James, WR Solomon Patton, FB/TE Evan Rodriguez, LB Lawrence Sidbury KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Kansas City - WR Donnie Avery, CB Marcus Cooper, OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OL Eric Kush, QB Aaron Murray, RB Charcandrick West, DT Nick Williams Pittsburgh - WR Justin Brown, DE Clifton Geathers, G Chris Hubbard, QB Landry Jones, S Troy Polamalu, TE Matt Spaeth, CB Ike Taylor MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1:00 PM (ET) Minnesota - LB Anthony Barr, OT Carter Bykowski, DB Ahmad Dixon, OT Charlie Johnson, FB Zach Line, CB Shaun Prater, TE Kyle Rudolph Miami - G Nate Garner, WR Matt Hazel, S Don Jones, WR Rishard Matthews, LB Chris McCain, G Dallas Thomas, RB Daniel Thomas NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS, 1:00 PM (ET) New England - CB Kyle Arrington, RB LeGarrette Blount, OL Dan Connolly, CB Alfonzo Dennard, OT Jordan Devey, WR Julian Edelman, RB James White NY Jets - DT T. http://www.asicsuksale.com/ . The 30-year-old Texas native was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the 2001 amateur draft. Duke spent six years in Pittsburgh and also had stints with Arizona, Washington and Cincinnati. Cheap Asics Shoes Wholesale . Yup, he definitely needed this one. Craig homered twice and had three RBIs Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Craig went 4 for 5 and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who salvaged the final game of a three-game set in hopes of staying within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central. Wholesale Asics Shoes .com) - Jahlil Okafor erupted for 25 points and 20 rebounds as No.WINNIPEG -- Jennifer Jones is one of the most successful skips in Canadian curling but, starting Sunday, shell be trying once more to capture the one prize that has eluded her so far -- a trip to the Olympics. Jones and her rink will join 15 more of Canadas best curling teams at the trials to determine which men and women will wear Canadas colours in Sochi. "To go to the Olympics I think, as any athlete in any sport, is an incredible experience," says Jones. "To represent your country at this huge sporting event, what the Olympics is all about, would be amazing." She has tried twice before, in 2005 and 2009 and struck out both times, not even making the playoffs. And its not like she was struggling with her game at the time, winning the Scotties in both those years. But Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials isnt a competition where winning your province even gets you into this game. In fact, 14 of the 16 teams vying to represent Canada at the Olympics come from just three provinces, Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba. The outliers are John Morris, who won Olympic gold as Kevin Martins third in 2010 and now skips John Cotters rink out of Vernon, B.C., and Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon. Alberta is represented by Kevin Koe from Calgary, Renee Sonnenberg from Grande Prairie and Martin, Heather Nedohin and Val Sweeting from Edmonton. Ontario is fielding Brier champion Brad Jacobs from Sault Ste. Marie, John Epping from Toronto, 2013 Scotties winner Rachel Homan from Ottawa (who beat Jones last February to take the title) and Glenn Howard and Sherry Middaugh from Coldwater. From Winnipeg, Jones is joined by Jeff Stoughton, Mike McEwan and Chelsea Carey. Jones knows from bitter experience how tough it can be to score the coveted spot on Canadas Olympic team, although right now shes the top-ranked female curler in Canada. "Its the eight best teams in the country that come together and play, so every game you have to be at youur very best.dddddddddddd. And its a really short round robin. Its only seven games. So you have to go out there and really play well from start to finish." The womens final will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the mens final on that Sunday. Jone has had more than just a taste of success with four national titles (three in a row starting in 2008) and one world title on her CV. She finished third at another world championship in 2010. But theres something special about the Olympics. "To win the Scotties is incredible. Any time you get to represent Canada is unbelievable, but to go as a bigger part of a big team Canada would be the experience of a lifetime. "I think every team at the Olympic trials wants to have that dream come true." Sweeting and Jacobs were the final rinks to qualify for this event at the Olympic pre-trials earlier in November in Kitchener, Ont. Its another measure of how tough it is to just get into the Olympic trials that 2006 Olympic gold medal winner Brad Gushue from Newfoundland didnt qualify. He lost to Jacobs in Kitchener but Gushue will be at the trials as an alternate on Martins team and another member of that 2006 team, Mark Nichols, is throwing lead rocks for Stoughton. Organizers are predicting huge attendance numbers for the trials, being held at the MTS Centre while the Winnipeg Jets are on an extended road trip. And it doesnt hurt that TSN has Will Farrell, in the persona of his outrageous TV anchorman Ron Burgundy, signed on for the opening of the event. He will team with network curling veteran Vic Rauter and Rauter got into the spirit of things in the news release announcing Ferrells appearance. "Its an honour to work with such an esteemed colleague. Im a huge fan of his work. Who are we talking about again?" As for the reason behind the guest gig, it might have something to do with the fact that "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" opens in theatres Dec. 20. ' ' '