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NEW YORK -- Stan Wawrinka is the first to acknowledge he hasnt always been the most consistent player -- or the strongest mentally. Thats why when he shows his mettle during a match he likes to point his right index finger to his temple.That signature gesture got a lot of use in the US Open final Sunday, when Wawrinka surprisingly managed to wear down Novak Djokovic and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 for his first US Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.He was the better player. He was tougher mentally, said Djokovic, offering two of the highest compliments a tennis player can receive from the talented Serb ranked No. 1. He knew what to do. And I was just unlucky in some moments. And thats it.The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest US Open mens champion since Ken Rosewall won in 1970 at age 35. Wawrinka entered Sunday having spent almost exactly twice as much time on court as Djokovic during the course of the tournament: about 18 hours versus about nine hours.I played quite a lot of tennis these two weeks. I am completely empty, said No. 3 Wawrinka, who noted during the trophy ceremony that Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.The Swiss player said in his postmatch news conference that before the final he was really nervous like never before. I was shaking in the locker. When [coach Magnus Norman and I] start five minutes before the match talking ... I start to cry. I was completely shaking.Asked what he did to quell his nerves, Wawrinka replied with a smile: I had to put my s--- together. Sorry. Thats how I say it.By breaking in the final game of the second and third sets and saving 14 of 17 break points he faced, Wawrinka had gained the upper hand by the time Djokovic clutched at his left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while being broken early in the fourth.Djokovic was granted the unusual chance to have a medical timeout at a time other than a changeover. He removed both shoes and socks so a trainer could help with toe blisters. Wawrinka complained about the six-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologized. Later, Djokovic started limping and received more treatment.We played almost four hours, said Djokovic, and I think I can speak in the name of Stan as well: We both felt it.Wawrinka appeared to share this sentiment.?As I said the other day, you have to accept to suffer and you have almost to enjoy to suffer, he said. Because I think this Grand Slam was the most painful, physically and mentally, Grand Slam that I ever played.Wawrinka has won only five of his 24 career meetings against Djokovic, but he now has beaten the 12-time major champion on the way to each of his Grand Slam titles, including in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals and 2015 French Open final.Before this matchup, Djokovic praised Wawrinka as a big-match player. He wasnt always, though. Playing in the shadow of his more accomplished Swiss countryman and good pal, Roger Federer, Wawrinka didnt reach the semifinals at a major until his 35th appearance -- at age 28.But look at Wawrinka now.He has won 11 tournament finals in a row.He is 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, beating the No. 1-ranked player each time. Take that trio of highest-stakes matches out of the equation and Wawrinka is 0-19 in all other matches against the top man.And he did it Sunday by coming back against Djokovic, whose French Open title in June completed a career Grand Slam and made him only the third man -- and first in almost a half-century -- to win four consecutive major tournaments.Djokovic had been 51-0 in US Open matches when taking the first set. This time, though, the thick-chested Wawrinka eventually began bullying Djokovic from the baseline, not only with his best-in-the-game one-handed backhand but also off both wings.He likes to occasionally whack the ball quite hard, and I dont think that Novak likes that, said Norman. Stan is maybe one of the few guys who can really hit through Novak if he has a good day.As Wawrinka placed one stinging shot after another right on a line, Djokovic looked up at coach Boris Becker while gesticulating with his hands and muttering. He went from appearing locked-in at the outset to completely drained in every way.I lost my nerves in the important moments. He kept his cool. I think thats what decided the match, Djokovic said. I guess sometimes it happens, even though you have the experience and know what to do. Just the heat of the moment and importance of the match, I guess, was too strong for me at certain periods of the match. Just if you lose your cool, the match can go away.On one point, Wawrinka delivered a shot so hard it knocked the racket from Djokovics grasp and against a wall behind the baseline.Then, after smacking a forehand winner to end a 20-stroke exchange, Wawrinka pointed to his temple. Two points later, the second set was his.After a forehand passing shot drew an errant volley for a break early in the third set, Wawrinka pointed to his temple.And so on.Wawrinka nearly was gone before the end of the US Opens first week, one point from losing in the third round against 64th-ranked Dan Evans. Sundays victory made Wawrinka the first man to win the tournament after saving a match point since -- thats right -- Djokovic in 2011.Youre a great champion, a great person. Because of you, I am where I am today, Wawrinka said. We know each other [for] many, many years, and I had the chance to practice many times with him and to play him on a big stage.With that, Djokovic threw his left arm around Wawrinkas shoulders, knowing he was more up to the task on this day.Winning two out of four Grand Slams is a pretty good year, and playing another final -- I have no complaints, Djokovic said. Obviously, I wish that I could win another title, but this is what it is. You have to shake hands and accept the loss from a better player and move on.Its not the first time, its not the last time Im going to lose a match. Big match, he continued. Hopefully I can learn from it. Hopefully I can get better, because thats the cycle of life, I guess, for us athletes.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Brian Burns Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Sam Mills Womens Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-greg-little-panthers-jersey/ . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Christian McCaffrey Womens Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Curtis Samuel Panthers Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at .Welcome to an NFL huddle, Mr. Goff .Your assignment, as No. 1 overall pick in Aprils draft who has not gotten on the field yet, but starts Sunday for the Rams against the Dolphins, is simple: win.Doing so against a Miami team that has won four straight makes your task a bit tougher. But never mind, Jared, go out and play like fellow rookie quarterbacks Dak Prescott in Dallas and Carson Wentz in Philadelphia have done.Its been a long time, it feels like, since Ive gotten out there and played, says Goff, and hes right -- it was the preseason when he last took a meaningful snap. Im excited to get back out there and play.Ive been working hard to get to that point. Im glad its finally come, glad theyve given me that vote of confidence and the nod. Im ready to go and proving them right.The Rams (4-5) come off a 9-6 victory at the Jets, hardly a boost of confidence for the offense. So coach Jeff Fisher made the switch.The opponent has looked formidable the past month. After winning last weekend at San Diego, the Dolphins (5-4 ) stayed in California this week to train.Its a different week for us just being away from home and being out of our normal facility, quarterback Ryan Tannehill says. Its definitely a challenge for us, but I think we have the focus to get it done the right way.I think thats one of the benefits of being out here together is we have time to spend together, to go to dinner, to hang out and build that team unity.The action began with Carolinas 23-20 home victory over New Orleans.Cam Newton threw for 192 yards and a touchdown in the game marred by injuries to key players. Newton was 14 of 33 and threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. to help the Panthers (4-6) pull even with the Saints for third place in the NFC South.The Panthers lost former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly (concussion), two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil (shoulder), defensive end Mario Addison (foot) and cornerback Leonard Johnson (chest) to injuries. Kuechly left the field on a cart while tears streamed down his face. The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a concussion in the third quarter.Off this week are the Falcons (6-4), Chargers (4-6), Jets (3-7) and Broncos (7-3).Houston (6-3) vs. Oakland (7-2) at Mexico CityFootball returns to a mecca of futbol, when the Raiders host the Texans at Azteca Stadium -- the first regular-season game south of the border in 11 years.I like to watch soccer, so Im wondering is it going to be like a soccer atmosphere where they have the horns playing and stuff like that, Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye says. I looked at the field just to see what its like and everything. Im already visualizing everything on what its going to be like.At the end of the day, you just got to expect the unexpected, you know, packed crowd. You dont know what type of atmosphere youre going to have or how loud its going to be, so its exciting and you try not to think about it. At the same time, you just try to focus on the task at hand.The Raiders have impressed with their high-powered offense and opportunism in the leagues best division, the AFC West. Dont expect Houstons Brock Osweiler, averaging a league-low 5.6 yards per pass, to keep up with that.Pittsburgh (4-5) at Cleveland (0-10)Sure, the Steelers have lost four in a row. In Cleveland, they are saying So what!The Browns never have been 0-10 i n a season and they enter the game with a 416-416-10 record for the two installments of the franchise. They have never been below .500, but are 14-44 since Jimmy and Dee Haslam took over as owners.To get off this schneid, they must figure out how to beat Ohio native Ben Roethlisberger, who is 20-2 against them overall. The Steelers are 28-6 against the Browns since Cleveland returned to the league in 1999.Baltimore (5-4) at Dallas (8-1)The Ravens and Cowboys each are division leaders. Similarities end there.Dallas is the NFLs hottest team, not having lost since the opener. It has that dynamic offense led by the leagues best line and sensational rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Prescott. Home-field advantage in the NFC is there for the taking.Baltimores only reason for being on top in the AFC North is how poorly the other division members have performed. The Ravens are too streaky, winning three, losing four, then winning two.Jacksonville (2-7) at Detroit (5-4)Detroit is another first-place team with few credentials to be thinking January success. Again, a weak division, the NFC North, has helped the Lions, who play nothing but tight games. All nine this season have been decided by seven points or fewer and Detroit has been trailing or tied at some point in the final two minutes of regulation in each of them.Jacksonville has struggled in great part because it has not had a takeaway in the past five games. Thats tied for the longest drought since the 1970 merger. The Jaguars are an NFL-worst minus-14 in turnover differential.Philadelphia (5-4) at Seattle (6-2-1)Both come off impressive victories, and Pete Carroll could get his 100th NFL win on Sunday. It looks as if hell have regular RB Thomas Rawls back from a Week 2 leg injury, and rookie C.J. Prosise gained 153 yards from scrimmaage in the win at New England.dddddddddddd They could provide balance to an offense that QB Russell Wilson had humming against the Patriots.Philadelphia won its fourth straight at home by beating Atlanta, but is 1-4 on the road. Wentz has been up and down, though the team has scored at least 20 points in 11 straight games, the longest streak in the league. Defense and special teams have been solid for the Eagles.Green Bay (4-5) at Washington (5-3-1)The previous time they met, the Packers won a playoff game here in January. Now, Green Bay is reeling, losing three straight, the ground game mediocre, the blocking unsteady and the defense keeping them competitive much of the time.Eddie Lacy has missed four games with an ankle injury, and the Packers signed running back Christine Michael after Seattle waived him.Aaron Rodgers will need for his line to come together this week because Washington has three sacks in five consecutive games. Redskins tight end Jordan Reed had nine receptions for 120 yards and a TD in that wild-card game.Tennessee (5-5) at Indianapolis (4-5)Some good things are happening in Nashville, and to punctuate that, the Titans also could end a 10-game slide against the Colts. Marcus Mariota and DeMarco Murray have the offense hopping -- Tennessee has scored 35 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time in a single season in franchise history. Mariota has thrown an NFL-high 17 TD passes over the past six weeks and Murray is second in the NFL with 930 yards rushing.Indianapolis was off last week. It won the Week 7 matchup when TE Jack Doyle caught a 7-yard TD pass with 1:55 to go. The Colts will honor the 10-year anniversary of their 2006 Super Bowl championship team.New England (7-2) at San Francisco (1-8)Coming off that bruising home loss to Seattle, the Patriots might take out their frustrations on the 49ers. Tom Brady, who grew up in the Bay Area, has never played at San Francisco. With a win over a team that has dropped eight in a row, Brady would tie Brett Favre for second in victories by a quarterback with 199. Peyton Manning holds the record with 200.The 49ers come off a strong but losing performance at Arizona. QB Colin Kaepernick should have fond memories of the Patriots: Kaepernick threw four TD passes in his only meeting with them, in 2012, a season the 49ers went to the Super Bowl.Buffalo (4-5) at Cincinnati (3-5-1)Two slumpers. Buffalo has dropped three straight and comes off a bye. The Bungles, uh, Bengals, have won only one of their past five, against inept Cleveland.The Bills have found ways to score, getting at least 25 points in each of the past five games, and are second in rushing behind Dallas with 155 yards per game. QB Tyrod Taylor comes off a strong outing in a loss to Seattle.Since opening last season 8-0, the Bengals are 7-10-1, including a playoff meltdown loss to Pittsburgh. Of note, though: A.J. Green is 36 yards shy of joining Randy Moss as the only NFL receivers with 1,000 yards in each of their first six seasons. Green ranks second in the league with 964 yards and third with 66 catches.Chicago (2-7) at New York Giants (6-3)New York has taken four in a row and has shown a penchant for big plays on offense, defense and special teams. The previous time the Giants won five straight, they also won the championship in 2011.Safety Landon Collins has sparked the defense with four interceptions in the past three games and excellent pass coverage and run support.Chicago has shown nothing on the road, dropping all five contests. The Bears seem to have found a running back, however, in Jordan Howard, who rushed for 100 yards in a loss to Tampa Bay last week. Howard ranks second among rookies with 605 yards rushing.Arizona (4-4-1) at Minnesota (5-4)Whats the deal with these two 2015 playoff teams?For Minnesota, awful blocking and injuries have contributed to four straight defeats. A defense that looked impenetrable earlier this season now looks vulnerable at times, and the kicking game has been woeful.Still, the Vikings are tied with Detroit atop the NFC North.The Cardinals have lost all eight meetings in Minnesota since their move to Arizona in 1988, and havent won at the Vikings since 1977 as the St. Louis Cardinals. For them to make any headway in the NFC playoff race after being a preseason favorite, they must prosper on the road: five of their final seven games are away from Arizona.Tampa Bay (4-5) at Kansas City (7-2)Dont look now, but the Chiefs are tied for the AFCs best record. And they could get back their star pass rusher, Justin Houston from a lengthy injury rehab. Regardless, they are getting major contributions from safety Eric Berry, who had his fourth career interception return for a TD in last weeks win at Carolina, and LB Dee Ford, whose 10 sacks are tied with Buffalos Lorenzo Alexander for the NFL lead. KC leads the NFL with a plus-14 turnover margin.The Buccaneers have won four straight in this series.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Jerseys the NFL lead. KC leads the NFL with a p