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NEW YORK -- When she stepped on the court Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Angelique Kerber?already had achieved a childhood dream. Bryse Wilson Jersey .When the new WTA rankings come out Monday, the 28-year-old German will be the WTAs No. 1-ranked player. That came courtesy of Karolina Pliskova, who earlier stunned Serena Williams in straight sets.It ended Williams run of 186 consecutive weeks at the top of womens tennis -- leaving her tied, appropriately enough, with another German, Steffi Graf, for the all-time record.How do you play a major semifinal match 20 minutes after youve reached the pinnacle of a sport youve played since the age of 3? It would have been easy to revel in the moment, take a moment to reflect on the wonder of joining a most exclusive peer group that features only 22.Or would the ascension to No. 1 free the left-hander to play a bolder, bigger game?Kerber chose Option 2, controlling Caroline Wozniacki with ease, 6-4, 6-3.In a game featuring two of tennis best defenders, Kerber overpowered the former No. 1 player and two-time US Open finalist. And now, shes into her third major final of the season.I was watching the [first] match a little bit in the end, Kerber admitted in her on-court interview. I was trying to focus and not think too much about that.I think [Graf] will be proud of me to be the next one after her.Kerber becomes, by three years, the oldest player to be ranked No. 1 for the first time; Jennifer Capriati was 25 in 2000. Kerber is the first new No. 1 in four years, going back to Victoria Azarenka.Its just another example of her peculiar powers of perseverance.When the year began, none of this seemed a likely scenario. Kerber finished 2015 ranked No. 10 and had advanced to only one Grand Slam semifinal in 32 career events.But back in January, she found herself in Melbourne, ripping through to the final, where she beat Serena in the seasons first Grand Slam 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. There was a predictable swoon -- Kerber was one and done in Mardrid, Rome and Paris -- before she regained her footing.In the Wimbledon final, Serena returned the favor, beating Kerber 7-5, 6-3.Pliskova was probably the only one who didnt want to see a third Williams-Kerber final this year in a Grand Slam. A single match, with the No. 1 ranking on the line, would have generated a monumental buzz.Instead, Kerber will have to be content with an opportunity to win her second major of the season -- the second of her career -- and lock down WTA Player of the Year honors.What kind of No. 1 will she be?Kerber is polite, generous and carries herself with poise.It says here, shell last longer than Mats Wilander, who held out for only seven weeks in 1988. Or Ana Ivanovic (three weeks in 2008) or Dinara Safina (two weeks in 2009).But there is almost no chance shell reign for 186 consecutive weeks.And that should be the big takeaway here.As well begin to realize in retrospect, Serenas command of the top spot, at the age of 34, was nothing short of amazing.Consider this number, produced by ESPN Stats & Information:In the more than three years she was No. 1, Williams won more titles (24) than lost matches (19).Fun fact: Kerber is the first lefty No. 1 since Monica Seles (1996), and only the third overall, after Martina Navratilova.Against Wozniacki, whose ranking has fallen to No. 74, Kerber was comfortably dominant, winning 65 of 117 points. She broke Wozniackis serve no fewer than five of 10 times.The only sign of nerves? When Kerber tried to serve out the match at 5-2.On match point, Kerbers forehand was called good, but looked out. Wozniacki, for whatever reason, did not challenge. The replay, however, showed the shot was out.Its just incredible, Kerber said. Yeah, its a great day. I just tried to focus on this match.To be in the final, to be No. 1 in the world, it sounds amazing. Pedro Borbon Jr. Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Hank Aaron Jersey . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. http:///...sey-large-1207z.html . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. NEW ORLEANS -- Ersan Ilyasova sat in one locker room, both feet in ice buckets as he soaked in the afterglow of the Philadelphia 76ers first road victory in nearly 11 months.Down the hall, Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sat in his locker, a black hood pulled up over his head, staring at nothing and clearly conveying his disgust without saying much at all.New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry had a little more to say, even uttering an expletive in response to a question about his job status.Ilyasova scored 23 points, Sergio Rodriguez added 16, and the 76ers snapped a franchise record-tying 23-game road losing streak, beating reeling New Orleans 99-88 on Thursday night.The victory was a gratifying one for Philadelphia coach Brett Brown, who contends his team has been improving, only to come up short in close games.Weve been trending that way, Brown said. We just havent had a win to validate it.The Pelicans became the first team to lose at home to the Sixers (5-18) since last season, when Orlando fell to Philadelphia on Jan. 20. The loss marked a new low for New Orleans (7-16), which was already off to a rough start.When asked if he was concerned about keeping his job, Gentry responded, I dont really give a (expletive) about my job status. Im going to work hard. Im going to coach until the day they tell me Im not the coach anymore. ... That is not anything I spend five seconds worrying about.Davis, who finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, offered only terse answers to questions, including a yes, when as if he was more frustrated than at any point in his four-plus NBA seasons.Were just not playing right, Davis said. We need to figure out something.Asked for his thoughts on what the Pelicans might change, Davis said, play harder. He also said he thinks Gentry is doing fine.Langston Galloway added 19 points for New Orleans, but the Pelicans made only 12 of 40 shots during the second half en route to a fourth-straight loss and sixth loss in seven.Joel Embiid had 14 points and blocked four shots to go with three steals for Philadelphia, which arrived in New Orlleans on an eight-game skid and had lost all seven of its previous road games this season. Gary Matthews Jersey. Dario Saric highlighted his 13-point night by scoring eight straight Sixers points on an 8-foot floater, a layup while he was fouled and 3-pointer to help Philadelphia quickly turn a tenuous 85-82 lead into a 10-point advantage with 3:50 left.We have to learn how to finish games. Were moving the right way as far as the learning process, Ilyasova said. This game, we tried to focus ourselves as far as being precise, not turn the ball over and be smart offensively.TIP-INSSixers: Nik Stauskas scored 14 points, hitting five of seven shots. ... Forward-center Nerlens Noel, who has not played this season because of a left knee injury, joined the Sixers in New Orleans. Brown has said Noel could play soon. ... The Sixers attempted 40 3s, hitting 12.Pelicans: First-round draft choice Buddy Hield started for a second straight game and for the third time this season, but made only two of 12 shots, hitting both from 3-point range. ... New Orleans was 7 of 25 from deep.SHOOTING SLUMPNew Orleans led 57-52 at halftime, but fell into a fell into a shooting funk in the third quarter, missing 20 of 25 shots. The Sixers hit just eight of 22 shots in the period, but led 71-69 heading into the fourth quarter.We really just laid an egg tonight, Galloway said.MISSING PLAYERSThe Pelicans were short-handed, missing guards Jrue Holiday and ETwaun Moore, who both have toe injuries, but the Sixers have been injury ravaged as well. In addition to Noel, they were without center Jahlil Okafor, guard Jerryd Bayless, and forward Robert Covington, while top overall draft choice Ben Simmons still hasnt even made his debut yet because of a foot fracture.We dont have time to have a pity party or anything like that, Gentry said. Weve got to find a way to correct the mistakes.UP NEXTSixers: Visit Detroit on Sunday.Pelicans: Visit the Clippers on Saturday night. ' ' '