NEW YORK -- Angelique Kerber earned the No. 1 ranking before she stepped on court, then she went out there and looked like a top-ranked player.Kerber is into her third major final of the year after dispatching Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets at the U.S. Open. She won the first four games en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory that set up a rematch with Karolina Pliskova, who denied the German lefty the No. 1 ranking a few weeks ago then handed it to her Thursday night.Its a great day, Kerber said.At the start of 2016, she had never made a Grand Slam final. Kerber could end it as a two-time major champ.In January, she not only advanced to the Australian Open title match but beat Serena Williams there. Kerber also reached the Wimbledon final, where she lost to Williams.Kerber would have overtaken Williams for the No. 1 ranking had she defeated Pliskova at Cincinnati on Aug. 21. Instead, Pliskova won that day for a breakthrough title and has been riding the momentum ever since.Pliskova upset a hobbled Williams in the first semifinal Thursday, which clinched No. 1 for Kerber -- who insisted she thought little about ascending to the top of the rankings as she prepared to take the court.To be No. 1 in the world -- that sounds amazing, Kerber said once she won and could finally contemplate the achievement.On match point, Kerber hit a backhand that appeared to be heading long, and Wozniacki was going to let it go until she realized it might have clipped the baseline. She swung too late and sent the ball sailing out to end the match instead of challenging the call.I got a few texts, but that just made me feel worse, Wozniacki said later.But clearly should have challenged it, she added. But at the end of the day, I dont think it would have made a difference.Not the way Kerber was relentlessly hammering her shots. Wozniacki even mixed in quite a few moon balls, but to no avail. Usually content to play defense, Wozniacki found herself trying to force the issue and made an uncharacteristic 26 unforced errors.A two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows, she arrived at this years tournament at No. 74 in the world after missing 2 1/2 months because of an ankle injury. She was seeking to become the lowest-ranked womens finalist at the U.S. Open, other than an unranked Kim Clijsters in 2009.Probably people ruled me out, but its nice to prove people wrong once again, Wozniacki said.How much longer might she keep trying to prove people wrong? Just as she had after her quarterfinal victory, Wozniacki declined to address a question about reports that her father told media she could retire in the next year or two.Wholesale Nike Air Max 270 . 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Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL.MILWAUKEE -- Starling Martes return didnt last long. The Pittsburgh Pirates stay in the NL wild-card race may not last too much longer.Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high, and Scooter Gennett sliced an opposite-field, two-run homer to help the Brewers avoid another sweep at Miller Park by the Pirates with a 3-1 win Thursday night.Chase Anderson (9-11) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a fifth-inning home run by Francisco Cervelli, his first since last Sept. 30.Marte grabbed his lower back after fouling off a pitch in the third and left the game with what the team called back tightness. He had singled in the first inning after missing 16 consecutive games because of low back discomfort.If you saw the game, you saw the swings in the middle of the at-bat, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said in describing Martes two plate appearances. Those swings just arent going to play.Pittsburgh trails the Mets and Giants by 4 1/2 games for the NL wild-card spots.Minimal opportunities tonight, Hurdle said. We hit some balls hard, much like they did last night. We hit some balls hard, and they were in front of them.Pittsburgh had won six straight at Milwaukee, including the first two games of the series.Anderson improved to 3-1 in five starts this season against the Pirates.Anderson has been on a good little run, Hurdle said. Weve been able to win a couple of games, but hes been pitching probably as good as he has in his career.Gennett homered to left field in the first against Ryan Vogelsong (3-6), who gave up two hits in four innings, struck out seven and walked twoI thought I threw a pretty good curveball there, Vogelsonng said of the pitch Gennett hit.dddddddddddd He stayed behind it and hit it the other way.Vogelsong had won his previous four starts against the Brewers.McCUTCHEN STAYS HOTMcCutchen has hit safely in 11 straight games against the Brewers and is batting .404 (19 for 47) with five runs, four doubles, three times, eight RBI and three walks in that span.McCutchen singled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, then doubled in the sixth to chase Anderson.PIRATES ACQUIRE COKEPittsburgh acquired left-hander Phil Coke from the New York Yankees for $1. The 34-year-old reliever made three appearances in the middle of May before the Yankees designated him for assignment on May 17. He then went 5-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 20 regular-season appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, including 11 starts.In the last two weeks, hes started two times, said. Theres volume there. Theres experience out of the bullpen.Coke, who is expected to join the team in Pittsburgh on Friday, gives Hurdle a healthy arm in the bullpen.(A.J.) Schugel is down, (Neftali) Perez is down and (Jeff) Locke just returned to pitch Wednesday, Hurdle said. He (Coke) might have an inning in him to get him initially involved.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: SS Jody Mercer wasnt in the starting lineup due to right forearm discomfort but pinch hit for Vogelsong in the fifth and grounded out.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (4-4) is to starts Fridays opener of a three-game series against visiting Washington, his first outing against the Nationals. ' ' '