gely because, as a rookie, he did not have to clear waivers to be demoted -- and other veterans did. Although he was expected t

LONDON -- Andy Murray looked up and soaked it all in as he walked out into the O2 Arena. This was a new feeling.He had waited a while for it -- seven years and 89 days, to be precise, since first becoming world No. 2 in August 2009.Given a standing ovation, the Scot stepped onto court as the top ranked player in the world for the first time Monday evening. Shaking off a few early nerves, he delivered a 6-3, 6-2 win over Marin Cilic.He could only smile as the crowd showed him their love.A big thank you for all of the support. I really appreciate it, the Scot said in his on-court interview. Ill keep working hard to give you moments like this on the court.His debut as No. 1 -- the first Briton to achieve the feat since the debut of the ATP rankings in 1973 -- fittingly came on home soil, and just an hours drive from his house in Surrey, where he has opted to stay during this tournament for the first time.Murray extended his win streak to 20 matches, just two shy of his career-best total. That particular run was set this summer, and was ended by none other than Cilic in the Cincinnati Masters final.When you start winning, you gain confidence, Murray added. In the important moments of break points, I was a little bit more solid. He had some chances in the first set, but I took my opportunities. Thats what winning matches does for you.The 2014 US Open winner was a dangerous opponent, having won the title in Basel last month and recorded his first win over Novak Djokovic to reach the Paris Masters semifinals.Aside from an early break back in the first set, the Croat had no answers here, despite the presence of Murrays former assistant coach Jonas Bjorkman in his players box. Cilic and his new coach were simply unable to cook up a game plan to throw Murray off.Making the final here would push Murray to a personal-best 23rd consecutive win. He may need to make it 24, though, if he wants to finish year-end No. 1.There are several permutations whereby either he or Novak Djokovic can finish the year on top, and the simplest for Murray is to win his first Tour Finals title.It was a great atmosphere here, Murray said. I played one of my best matches Ive played here over the years. Ill just try and keep going until the end of the year now.Murray, still unbeaten in London this year having won Queens Club and Wimbledon, halted a run of three consecutive breaks to take a 4-1 lead in the first set against Cilic before taking it in 46 minutes.He then broke the Croat twice in the second set and served it out in an hour and a half.Earlier Monday, Stan Wawrinka was bounced 6-2, 6-3 by Kei Nishikori in just 67 minutes.His match stats didnt make for good reading -- failing to create a single break point, Wawrinka committed 31 unforced errors and three double faults.One of those handed Nishikori a double break and a 5-2 lead in the first set, which the Japanese player closed out in less than half an hour.The Swiss was self-deprecating with his trademark sense of humour in his post-match press conference. Asked if the quicker courts were better than last year at the O2 Arena, he quipped with a smile: So far not, because I just lost the match, but I will see at the end of the tournament.Wawrinkas serve deserted him. He made just 52 percent of first serves in the opening set, and won just 38 percent of points on his second serve throughout the match.As impressive as Nishikori was, his serve has never been his strong point but still Wawrinka was unable to capitalize. The world No. 5 made just 47 percent of his first serves, yet managed to win 74 percent of points on his second serve.Nishikori closed out the win by breaking Wawrinka for a fourth time, gaining a measure of revenge for his semifinal defeat at Flushing Meadows.It was not a great match compared to what I can do, thats for sure, added Wawrinka. It wasnt a great day for myself. In general, I think he play well, put a lot of pressure from the beginning.I dont think I find anything on the court today. I was a little bit slow on everything. I was hesitating a lot with my game, my movement. cheap china jerseys . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. replica jerseys china . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. https://www.chinajerseysreplica.us/ .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. cheap jerseys from china . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. china jerseys . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Canucks will test their early-season fatigue levels when they host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.Meanwhile, the Senators (3-2-0-0) will attempt to adapt quickly to playing in Western Canada after a long flight -- and overcome repeated failure at Rogers Arena.The Canucks (4-1-0-1) will play their third game in four nights while trying to overcome two losses in California, to the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. Sundays 4-2 setback in Anaheim was Vancouvers first loss in regulation time after the first five games involved overtime or a shootout.Canucks coach Willie Desjardins was hoping that the losses were due more to fatigue than a downturn in play after his team reeled off four straight wins to start the season.I thought we were tired as a group, Desjardins told Post Media after Sundays loss to the Ducks. I thought our (defensemen) were tired. L.A. is a big, heavy team and they might have wore a little bit out on our (defense), I think.After a team day off Monday, the defense crew will have some refreshment available Tuesday. On Monday, the Canucks called up rookie defensemen Troy Stecher from Utica of the AHL. Stecher, a native of the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, B.C., who played three seasons at the University of North Dakota, turned heads in the preseason with his strong play.He showed offensive flair and the ability to move the puck quickly out of the defensive zone. Desjardins admitted Stecher threw a wrench into final roster selection plans. Stecher was sent down largely because, as a rookie, he did not have to clear waivers to be demoted -- and other veterans did. Although he was expected to be back with Vancouver at some point this season, Stecher has arrived sooner than expected, possibly because fellow rearguard Nikita Tryamkins days with the Canucks are limited.Tryamkin, who saw action with Vancouver last season but is still classified as a rookie, has a clause in his contract that requires him to be returned to the Kontinental Hockey League instead of being sent to the minors. The 22-year-old Russian, who stands six-foot-seven and weighs 220 pounds, has been a healthy scratch in all six of Vancouvers games to date, and the Canucks have attempted to send him to Utica, but he has refused to go.There is no possibillity that he will play in the American Hockey League, Canucks general manager Jim Benning told Post Media over the weekend.dddddddddddd Weve explored that. Weve talked to him and his agent and he has said no.Stecher, 22, has recorded one assist and two penalty minutes in four games with Utica this season. The Canucks also promoted winger Jason Megna on Monday. Megna, 26, who signed as a free agent in the offseason after splitting last season with the New York Rangers and their Hartford farm team, is expected to fill in for Alex Burrows, who is sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Burrows and fellow winger Derek Dorsett (shoulder) missed Sundays game in Anaheim due to health woes, forcing the Canucks to use defenseman Alex Biega as a forward.While the Canucks were still in California, the Senators arrived a day early in Vancouver in a bid to reverse some misfortune in Canadas westernmost city. The Sens have not won at Rogers Arena since March 13, 2004 -- although they did post a victory next door at B.C. Place Stadium in the Heritage Classic in 2014, when former Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo stewed on the bench as a backup in what would be his final game with the team before a trade to Florida.The Sens hit town two days early -- instead of the usual one -- in a bid to reverse the bad history.We know that we cant just say, OK guys lets try to get over the time change. Its something you have to live (with) and every day you have ahead of the game makes a difference, coach Guy Boucher was quoted by Post Media after a practice Monday.I believe this is going to be enough. The practice was good. The guys were intense, focused and we tackled everything we wanted to do. So I think we got everything we needed out of the last few days. We had a day off, a hard-working day and now we have to be ready to start on time.In addition, Boucher has disrupted all of his line combinations to help rejuvenate the Sens following their 4-1 home loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.I was just trying out a few things, Boucher told Post Media. Were on the road, so we dont have the matchups we want, so Im just trying to balance things out so we get good matchups with the four lines. ' ' '