LONDON - It has been a year of firsts for Kei Nishikori. After becoming the first Asian player to qualify for the ATP Finals, the Japanese newcomer claimed his maiden win at the elite tournament on Sunday with a first win over local favourite Andy Murray.Nishikori, who also reached his first Grand Slam final earlier this year at the U.S. Open, has turned into a major player on the Tour this season, claiming four titles to climb to fifth place in the rankings after improving the mental side of his game.I think he hasnt made big changes to technique or any of his shots particularly, but hes playing with more confidence, said Murray after his 6-4, 6-4 loss at the O2. Because of that, hes able to take more chances and be a little bit more aggressive than he was previously.The main reason behind Nishikoris breakthrough has been a change in the 24-year-old players approach when facing the top players. With the help of coach Michael Chang, the former French Open champion, Nishikori is now able to leave aside the admiration that paralyzed him on his debut on the Tour.As a result, he posted ten wins over members of the Top 10 this season and defeated Milos Raonic, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic en route to the final at Flushing Meadows.After turning pro, I was feeling a lot of respect to everybody actually, especially top players, said the 5-foot-10 Japanese, who lives in the United States. The first time I played Roger (Federer), I could not play anything because I respected him too much. I was not going for the win actually. I was just playing tennis with my idol. That was one of the problems I had.One of the smallest players in tennis elite, Nishikori also worked hard to improve his fitness after an early career marred by injuries.Im spending more time in the gym and also on the courts, Im practicing more during the off-season, he said. Even when Im on the Tour, Im trying to do a little bit of rehab and a little bit of training.Placed in a tough Group B along with Roger Federer, Raonic and Murray, Nishikori admitted that he struggled with his nerves early on against the Scot.The stadium is huge, he said. I tried not to look up too much because there were too many people on the top. I started to feel a little bit more confident in the second set, where I was a very, very solid player. White Sox Jerseys 2020 . Curtis Davies and Robert Koren secured the victory with goals inside 35 minutes of the fifth-round replay against the second-tier side. Chicago White Sox Shirts . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted that its believed the Flames are working towards a new contract with the defenceman. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/.C. -- Clemson celebrated a senior class Saturday that brought the program back as a national contender. Fake White Sox Jerseys . "Last year we were in a ton of situations, late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold under the pressure, get frustrated or let a big shot frustrate us," guard DeMar DeRozan said. Chicago White Sox Store . Murray, the defending champion and No. 3 seed, claimed his first match win at Queens in 2005 and went on to win the Wimbledon warmup three times. But he failed to take advantage of eight set points after leading the first-set tiebreaker 6-2, and Stepanek survived to convert with his second set point.PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have been pulling off comebacks all season, with seemingly a different player coming through each time. This time, it was Eric Chavezs turn. Stuck in a rut since coming off the disabled list, Chavez hit the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning for a run-scoring single, sending the Diamondbacks to another walk-off victory, 4-3 over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night. "Weve been good at it, its just not a fun way to play baseball," Chavez said. "Weve played so many extra-inning games, you just dont want to play like that. But we are good late. I dont know what that means, but that was a good one." Arizona has had a knack for walking away with wins this season and pulled off another one against the Giants. After Brad Ziegler (8-1) worked a perfect ninth, Willie Bloomquist opened the bottom half with a single off Sandy Rosario (3-2) for his third hit and moved up on Adam Eatons sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to Paul Goldschmidt, Chavez lined his single into left-centre for his fifth career game-ending hit, sending the Diamondbacks rushing out of their dugout to greet him. It was Arizonas 12th walk-off victory this season and 29th comeback win. It may also be the trigger that gets Chavez back in the groove he was in before going on the DL Aug 10 with a strained left knee. Hitting .299 before the injury, he had gone hitless in 12 at-bats since coming off the DL, including an 0-for-4 start against the Giants. Chavez ended the streak in dramatic fashion, lining a high fastball to the opposite field. "He came to me during (batting practice) and said, My swing stinks right now, but I might come through in a big spot," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "He hung tough a got a good pitch." San Francisco won the series opener 1-0 and rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the middle game. Starter Ryan Vogelsong gave the Giants a chance with six effective innings, but the bullpen, which has been stellar let it slip away. The run off Rosario was the second allowed by San Franciscos bullpen in 20 2-3 innings that past seven games. Gregor Blanco hit a solo homer and Hunter Pence had three hits for the Giants. "A hard fought game, the guys did well ccoming back," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.dddddddddddd"They got the leadoff hitter and that puts pressure on you." Vogelsong had been sharp since coming off the disabled list for a broken right hand, going 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA. But the right-hander has struggled his second time through the order all season and Saturday was no different. Vogelsong escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, but Arizona opened the fourth with three straight hits, the last a run-scoring single by Miguel Montero. Gerardo Parra followed with a sacrifice fly and Bloomquist made it 3-0 with a run-scoring single. Opponents are hitting .349 against Vogelsong the second time through the order after the Diamondbacks went 5 for 6 with a walk and two sacrifices. "In that one inning, I got a little loose mechanically and that had an effect on how sharp the pitches were," said Vogelsong, who allowed three runs on nine hits. "The rest of the game wasnt too bad." Arizona starter Trevor Cahill escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first by getting Pablo Sandoval to fly out. Cahill was helped by double plays in the fourth and fifth. He seemed to tire by the seventh inning, when Blanco hit his third pitch out to right for a homer and Marco Scutaro chased him with a run-scoring triple. Buster Posey tied the game at 3 later in the inning with a run-scoring single off Josh Collmenter. Cahill yielded three runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. "I had some guys on base all night and had to make some big pitches, just probably trying to do a little too much there at the end," Cahill said. NOTES: Vogelsong singled in the fifth for his second hit in 24 at-bats this season. ... Arizonas Martin Prado is hitting .364 since the All-Star break after going 3 for 4. ... Giants CF Angel Pagan saved a run in the seventh with a diving catch on Aaron Hills liner. ... Arizona LHP Patrick Corbin will pitch the series finale Sunday after allowing eight earned runs in 5 1-3 innings against Philadelphia in his last start. ... RHP Yusmeiro Petit will make his second start for the Giants on Sunday. He earned his first victory in the majors since 2009 by allowing two runs over six innings against Colorado in his first start this season. ' ' '