Alive! » Grand Slam main draw for the first time.

Four Canadians have earned direct entry into the main draw of the French Open, the second Grand Slam event of the tennis season, while three more have a chance to qualify. On the womens side, Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, QC, seeded no. 18, will start against Shahar Peer of Israel. It will be the fourth meeting between the two players and Bouchard has won the first three. Flavia Pennetta, Daniela Hantuchova, and Angelique Kerber are the other seeds in the Canadians section. At last years French Open, Bouchard was defeated by Maria Sharapova in the second round. With her career-high ranking of no. 77, Sharon Fichman of Toronto, ON, has earned direct entry into a Grand Slam main draw for the first time. She faces a tough first round test against sixth-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic. Fichman will also be teaming up in with Russias Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in doubles. The pair won two junior Grand Slam doubles titles together including Roland-Garros in 2006. On the mens side, eighth-seeded Milos Raonic of Thornhill, ON, will open against the fast rising Australian wildcard Nick Krygios. The 19-year-old Aussie was crowned champion of the International Junior Tennis Open in Repentigny in 2012. Raonic has enjoyed a successful clay court season, highlighted by a semifinal appearance at the Rome Masters event last week. He will be looking to improve on his third round showing in Paris last year where he fell to Kevin Anderson. Some of his potential opponents include Gilles Simon, Alexandr Dolgopolov, and Kei Nishikori. Vancouvers Vasek Pospsil is hoping to get back in the win column for the first time since the Australian Open. He will take on world no. 60 Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia in the first round. Peter Polansky of Thornhill, ON, became the first Canadian to qualify for the French Open. With the win, the 25-year-old will return to the French Open main draw for the first time since 2009. One more Canadian is alive in qualifying - Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, QC, needing one more win to get a spot in the Roland Garros main draw. Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls and Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa were both eliminated in qualifying on Friday. John Franklin-Myers Jersey . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Joseph Noteboom Jersey . -- The Oakland Athletics and free agent right-hander Bartolo Colon have agreed to terms on a US$2 million, one-year contract, bolstering their depleted starting rotation. http://www.laramsfansshop.com/c-78-rams-aqib-talib-jersey.aspx . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Marcus Peters Jersey . Authorities in Medina, Minn., released the details one day after Cunningham was jailed for another alleged incident with the woman he had been living with for the previous eight months. Cunningham had already been charged with felony domestic assault for allegedly choking the woman last week. Brandon Allen Rams Jersey . This weeks Raptors Report puts a bow on Gays brief, 10-month tenure in Toronto and ponders how his absence will affect the teams offence. Are they a better team without him? In addition to acquiring some valuable cap flexibility, what impact will the four incoming players have this season and beyond? Click here for the Dec.MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Russ Smith scored a career-high 42 points and No. 5 Louisville cruised to a 94-65 victory over Houston on Friday in the semifinals of the inaugural American Athletic Conference tournament. Smith shot 14 for 22 from the field and 5 for 7 from 3-point range. His final points came on a three-point play where he hit a reverse layup and converted the ensuing free throw. Luke Hancock andd Montrezl Harrell both added 12 for the Cardinals (28-5), the tournaments second seed, who will face the winner of Fridays second game between top-seeded Cincinnati and Connecticut.dddddddddddd TaShawn Thomas and Brandon Morris scored 13 each for Houston (17-16), while Danuel House had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Cougars lost for only the second time in their last seven games. Authentic Steelers Jerseys Authentic Cowboys Jerseys Authentic Raiders Jerseys Authentic Chiefs Jerseys Authentic Eagles Jerseys Authentic Redskins Jerseys Authentic Falcons Jerseys Authentic Ravens Jerseys Authentic Browns Jerseys Authentic Cardinals Jerseys Authentic Bills Jerseys Authentic Panthers Jerseys Authentic Bears Jerseys Authentic Bengals Jerseys Authentic Texans Jerseys Authentic Broncos Jerseys Authentic Lions Jerseys Authentic Packers Jerseys Authentic Jets Jerseys Authentic Dolphins Jerseys Authentic Patriots Jerseys Authentic Jaguars Jerseys Authentic Titans Jerseys Authentic Chargers Jerseys Authentic Giants Jerseys Authentic Saints Jerseys Authentic Buccaneers Jerseys Authentic 49ers Jerseys Authentic Seahawks Jerseys Authentic Rams Jerseys Authentic Vikings Jerseys Authentic Colts Jerseys ' ' '