With Canadas Fed Cup team ready to take on the Slovak Republic next week, Blainville, Quebecs Aleksandra Wozniak - who played in February against Serbia in her first Fed Cup tie since 2011 - sets the stage with her personal blog on RDS. Nike Air Huarache Og .ca and TSN.ca. --- Before starting this column, Id like to thank the people whove supported me since my return to the circuit. I read your comments and thank you for continuing to encourage me. In addition to fans, theres also a whole team behind me and a great Canadian delegation, as this will be the case at the Fed Cup on April 19 and April 20 in Quebec City. These people behind the scenes may say little, but will give me a boost for the entire week of competition - and also for the rest of the year. Theres André Parent, our fitness coach whos responsible for conditioning both the pros and the young developing players at Uniprix Stadium. Hes worked with us for a long time and on Wednesday he was appointed chief physical trainer for the Fed Cup. Hes one of the most important people in my career, helping me return to competition after my shoulder injury and avoiding surgery. Also, Marlene Nobrega has been our physiotherapist for more than 20 years - both in the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup - along with massage therapist Samantha Cox. In addition to André Barrette, who deals with the administrative aspect of our program, theres captain Sylvain Bruneau and coach Simon Larose. Not to mention so many other volunteers who are involved. The big difference playing elsewhere compared to Canada, as was the case in Serbia in February of 2011, is that we had the crowd against us. With our team on our side, its as if we brought some of our supporters with us outside our home. Not underestimating our opponents This will be the second time were participating in the World Group play-offs, but weve never managed to take the next step forward so its an opportunity for us to make Canadian history. Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova wont be taking part, but Magdalena Rybarikova is still an excellent player. Jana Cepelovas confidence will be high after making the Family Circle Cup final last weekend. I dont know Michaela Honcova well, but with Anna Schmiedlova (65th in the world), the Slovak Republic will have three players in the Top 80. So it will be very important for us to showcase our best tennis. While Cibulkova and Hantuchova arent there, we should not underestimate them. Facing little-known players, well need to adjust our training accordingly and continue to properly train and prepare mentally. Well also benefit from a week together before the tournament to build our team spirit. After all, this isnt an individual competition. Well do things as a team and keep encouraging each other. This is a big opportunity for us - especially playing here in Quebec City - and we know well have the support of 3,500 supporters at the new Amphitheatre at PEPS, Laval University. A boost of energy Whenever I had a serious injury in the past, the Fed Cup arrived at the right time and the tournament gave me that boost of confidence. And after the competition, I returned and carried that renewed confidence to other tournaments. I havent used my protected ranking since the Indian Wells tournament, but I think going through qualifications has had its advantages. Since my return to the game, Ive needed to build up matches. It gives me set benchmarks and confidence and it also allows me to refine my work on the court. As a result, Ive beaten 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki and have also won against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Urszula Radwanska. And it was difficult after missing so much action. Ive now had 23 matches under my belt since January and its allowed me to bring my game to its highest level. My service has also notably improved. Over the last six months, Ive found more power but Im still working on my consistency. There are several factors which still have an effect on my shoulder, such as playing altitude, temperature, or even the type of tennis balls Im using. But Ive found a certain level of stability despite the changing game conditions. When I started to play after injuring my shoulder, I was 288th in the world. Now Im 153rd and have made good progress over the last three months. But I want to be even better. I feel great in my workouts and I just have to concentrate on doing the right things and continuing to climb up. Nike Air Huarache Femme . Rondo had eight points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in his eighth game back from a serious knee injury, and Jeff Green scored 17 of his 36 points in the third quarter in the Celtics 114-108 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.Nike Lunarglide 6 Femme Avis .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Michael Phelps re-arranged schedule was on full display Saturday night. The 14-time Olympic gold medallist found a new event to dominate, easily winning the 200-metre backstroke at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix after rival Ryan Lochte was a healthy scratch. Phelps led the entire way and touched the wall more than three seconds ahead of the competition at one minute 57.05 seconds. Mitchell Larkin was second and Matthew Swanston third. "Its fun. Just being able to get in the water and do something different every now and then is good," Phelps said. The event wasnt part of Phelps record haul of eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Its one of the changes Phelps is considering to his schedule ahead of next years London Games, planning to compete in less taxing races to maximize his output. Never was that more evident than Saturday. Phelps was an unusual spectator for his signature event, watching the 400 individual medley from the stands as Lochte and others exhausted themselves in the gruelling race. Lochte, slowed by a strained left knee, finished second behind Brazils Thiago Pereira. "I will say, watching the 400 IM, I do not want to be back in the pool for that race," Phelps said, chuckling. "I dont miss that race." Phelps, turning 26 at the end of June, isnt planning to enter eight events in London and try to repeat his record performance. He has reiterated he will drop the 400 individual medley and could trim his schedule more. Santa Clara, the last stop on USA Swimmings grand prix series, and next months world championships in Shanghai are a test run for Phelps new-look schedule. With his toughest competitor out, Phelps also was put in a different spot. He was the pacesetter from the start without Lochte -- the former world-record holder in the event -- pushing him a lane over. Phelps bbeat Lochte in Charlotte in the 200 backstroke earlier this year and the two wont meet again in any event until Shanghai. Nike Flyknit Lunar 3 Homme. "I saw the program beforehand and I was kind of bummed he wasnt in the race," Phelps said. "I think its good to see him back in the IM. I think thats something that we need to try and keep on our side. We need to keep that medal. Not only in the world champs, but in the Olympics." Lochte was a late scratch for the final because his coaches didnt want to wear him out with the 400 IM just before. Lochte had the fastest time in the backstroke preliminaries behind Phelps. With Phelps and the retired Aaron Peirsol out of the individual medley, the surging Lochte figures to be the United States best hope. He didnt wear a jammer, which helps with water resistance, and said he was more than pleased with his time. Lochte also said his knee wasnt an issue and he will "definitely" swim the event at the world championships. "After that loss, I think Im pumped up," said Lochte, who wore a black "Google me" T-shirt with green sneakers to the starting block. "I didnt try to snap my legs and still had a pretty good time." Among the other notable winners: Park Tae-hwan of South Korea won the 200 freestyle for his third victory of the grand prix. He also won the 400 free and beat Phelps by a finger in the 100 free Friday. Stephanie Rice won the womens 400 individual medley; Allison Scmitt finished first in the womens 200 freestyle; Meagen Nay won the womens 200 backstroke; William Copeland took the mens 50 free; and Madison Kennedy was first in the womens 50 freestyle. In the relays, the Australian teams swept. Brittany Elmslie, Bronte Barratt, Nay and Rice won the womens 800 freestyle, and Ryan Napoleon, Ridge Grimsey, Nicholas DArcy and Kenrick Monk took the mens 800 free. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
