provide them with a static target to hit when all of that passion and pow

HALLE, Germany -- Gael Monfils beat fifth-seeded Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open on Tuesday, the latest step in the Frenchmans comeback from a knee injury. In the upset of the day, Mirza Basic of Bosnia, a lucky loser from qualifying playing his first main-draw match on the ATP Tour, downed seventh-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (5). The 21-year-old Basic earned a match point with a drop volley and won the match when Janowicz reached another drop shot but sent it back long. Basic was playing only because Philipp Petzschner withdrew with a shoulder injury. "They only told me at noon that I would be playing. I was a little scared, I was a little nervous, I was playing a big server on grass, on centre court," Basic said. Monfils broke Raonic for 2-1 in the first set and never looked back. The Frenchman also went up a break at the start of the second set. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., put some pressure on Monfils in the final game, but Monfils hit a drop shot followed by a lob, and served out the match with an ace. Once ranked as high as No. 7 in the world, Monfils missed several months in 2012 because of a right-knee injury that also cut his season short. He was ranked No. 119 a month ago, but has jumped to No. 67 this week. Monfils wasted four match points in losing to Tommy Robredo in the third round of the French Open. "I am just happy to be on court, enjoying every second," said Monfils, who joked with line officials during the match and threw his racket while trying to reach a smash from Raonic. Monfils said adjusting to grass from clay in Paris was not easy. "Its very hard for my movement," Monfils said, adding that hed rather lose a point than risk re-injuring his knee. "I am more mature after what I went through last year. Ive grown up. I try to do simple things." In other first-round matches, sixth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany cruised past Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-3, 6-1, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, Leonardo Mayer of Argentina defeated German wild card Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Jurgen Melzer of Austria outlasted qualifier Riccardo Ghedin of Italy 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4. Basic played four matches on grass as a junior at Wimbledon six years ago, and none again until three rounds in qualifying in Halle. He was No. 5 in junior ranks but the transition to the pro tour has been slow -- he is ranked No. 240. Basic began playing tennis in his native Sarajevo "because there was nothing else to do, it was after the war and everything was destroyed." Splitting time between Sarajevo and a tennis academy in Brussels, Basic plays league tennis in various countries while he tries to stay afloat financially. Basic took a 3-1 lead in the final set, but was broken back immediately by the 22nd-ranked Janowicz, who finished with 16 aces. "I didnt think I would lose my serve so easily so I lost some confidence. I was trying to hold my serve and wait for the tiebreaker, I knew that was my chance," said Basic, who served 10 aces. Wenyen Gabriel Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Richaun Holmes Kings Jersey . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Nemanja-Bjelica-City-Edition-Jersey/ . 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Tom Wood has urged his England team-mates to beware of Argentinas passion in Saturdays showdown at Twickenham.The Grand Slam champions are seeking to extend their winning run to 13 Tests while the Pumas need victory to give them the best possible chance of avoiding inclusion in a tortuous pool at the 2019 World Cup.Wood led England twice against Argentina in 2013 when Chris Robshaw was rested and knows the value of the spirit they bring to a match.Their passion is still relevant. Rugby isnt chess and you cant take emotion out of it. Emotion and that level of passion counts for an awful lot, Wood said.Emotion can bridge a gap between teams because that level of physicality and desperation, pride and togetherness is a leveller and can make it a very tough game.Youve got to match that and bring a level of intensity too. There are technical things that you can do to take the sting out of it - for example you can put kicks in behind and not allow them to engage.If you provide them with a static target to hit when all of that passion and power is brimming early doors after the anthems, then maybe that will play into their hands.dddddddddddd.Emotion is really big. Obviously it is also about how you use it because equally it can get the better of you to the point that youre so fired up you miss the obvious things.Its definitely a weapon that you can use and it can also work against you if you get it wrong.Wood has fought his way back into the England fold this autumn to make his first appearances under Eddie Jones and the Northampton captain is content focusing on playing alone having been part of Stuart Lancasters leadership group.I dont mind being a foot soldier and not a leader. Im happy being a foot solider, Wood said. Thats kind of the definition of an openside - get your head down, work, chase rucks, chase kicks and get stuck in.You put your body on the line and thats what I do best. Im more than happy doing that. Im not trying to be a leader, Im not afraid to say things and to mention things when I think that its important but Im not crying out to be known as a leader. ' ' '