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MELBOURNE, Australia - Friends off the court — Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki — face tough tests on Thursday when they play unseeded but potentially dangerous players in the second round at the Australian Open.No. 1-ranked Williams, attempting to win her sixth Australian Open title and 19th major, takes on former No. 2-ranked Vera Zvonareva in a day match on Rod Laver Arena day. Wozniacki plays two-time former Australian titleholder Victoria Azarenka in a night encounter on Margaret Court Arena.We have both pretty intense second-round matches, players who have been to the finals and one who has won Grand Slams, Williams says. Its going to be tricky for her and for me as well just to stay focused.Here are some things to watch on Thursday:___HOLDING THE EDGE: Despite winning seven of her nine matches against Zvonareva, Williams is aware of how good a player the 30-year-old Russian was in 2010 when she made it to the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals and rose to No. 2 in the rankings. That was before a right shoulder injury and subsequent surgery forced Zvonareva off the tour for more than a year. Zvonarevas official ranking now is 203. Its going to be tough, she does so many things well, Williams says. Shes on the way back. I know shes been fighting and playing really hard.___DJOKOVIC, NISHIKORI RETURN: Two players in the top half of the mens draw who could meet in the semifinals — top-seeded and four-time champion Novak Djokovic and U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori — are in action in the second round. Two men who could upset that scenario — Canadian Milos Raonic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka — are also playing Thursday. Djokovic plays Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia and Nishikori takes on Ivan Dodig of Croatia. Eighth-seeded Raonic, in Djokovics quarter of the draw, takes on American Donald Young, while Wawrinka, who could meet Nishikori in the quarterfinals, is up against Marius Copil of Romania.___ANOTHER TOUGH ONE: Wozniacki leads Azarenka 4-3 in their seven meetings. Wozniacki won four in a row before Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open champion, beat Wozniacki in their last meeting at Cincinnati in 2013. Not the easiest on paper (but) honestly, whether you have to beat her in the second round or fourth round, whatever, doesnt matter if you want to win the tournament, says Wozniacki. Azarenka, whose ranking slipped late last year after foot and knee injuries restricted her to just nine tournaments, said shes just happy to be here: Thats my key word for this tournament: Compete.___JUNIOR MEMORIES: Raonics match against Young, the 25-year-old American, brings up a lot of recollections for his opponent from north of the border. A former No. 1-ranked junior and once featured in a weekly newsmagazine article entitled Whos Next? Young was touted to be the next big American player when he began playing professionally at age 15. Hes never quite achieved that potential. He was sort of the poster boy of the way everybody sort of wanted their junior career to go, says Raonic. I definitely followed because there were a lot of tags and labels on him, (I) was aware of sort of what happened, then what he went through. Theres always been a big spotlight on him. Raonic, 24, didnt have a stellar junior career — never getting past the second round of any junior Grand Slam tournament — but hes blossomed into a bona fide top-10 player and considered to have Grand Slam championship potential.__Follow Dennis Passa on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DennisPassa Bruno Fernando Jersey .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. DeAndre Bembry Jersey . He made another correct read. The Browns, who have been shuttling quarterbacks on and off the field all season, finally got some good news on that front: Campbells ribs are only bruised. https://www.thehawkslockerroom.com/Trae-...Edition-Jersey/. -- Martin Kaymer never lost sight of opportunity even amid so much evidence of trouble in the closing stretch Sunday at The Players Championship. Damian Jones Jersey . Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying. Spud Webb Hawks Jersey .C. United on Wednesday night. Forward Bright Dike scored the games only goal in the 85th minute on a foggy night in Bradenton, Fla.Daniel Zakrzewski: Youve got a pretty wicked collection of Jordans in Seahawk green. If you could customize any pair of classic Jordans in the teams color scheme, which would you chose?Earl Thomas III: You know what, I like the Jordan VIs. I like those, and it would probably be like an all blue shoe, with our navy blue, with a splash of cloud blue, you know, to stand out. Think that would be something different, unique and creative.DZ: Where would you splash the Seahawks green?ET3: Probably just on the bottoms, cause if I catch a pick and Im running, all the camera angles would get my shoes flash (laughs).DZ: I saw that you recently took part in Old Spices new ad campaign, starring on their talk show 4th and Touchdown. Was that one of the weirder commercials youve done?ET3: Yeah, everybodys been talking about it! I havent seen the commercial yet. You know, stuff like that is very awkward, but its a challenge, it puts me in an uncomfortable situation. So I just tried it!DZ: Was that one of the weirder commercials youve been involved with? (laughs)ET3: Yes, by far. But you know what, thats the most fun Ive had, though. Just in that type of environment, with props, and learning more about myself while Im doing it.DZ: Looking at your twitter and Instagram, account its pretty clear youre a pretty big fan of video games. Whats one of your favourite non-sports related games?ET3: Ive been trying to play the Destiny game, its been challenging. I cant really control the guns, and a lot of times Im trying to understand where I need to go, and you know its kinda tough (laughs).DZ: Yeah, its not exactly the most straight forward of games (laughs).ET3: Right, right.DZ: Do you play Madden at all?ET3: All the time. Not recently, but I think to be totally honest, and if you ask anybody on my football team this, theyll say Im the best Madden player on the football team.(Photo credit: EA Sports)DZ: Really? Have you heard who may be the best in all of the NFL at Madden?ET3: Havent heard, I dont know. You know, that would be hard for someone to claim that theyre the best NFL, Madden football player in the league, cause youve got to play everybody in the league.DZ: That would be a pretty wicked competition, I wouldnt mind watching that go down.ET3: Yeah, for sure.DZ: If you could edit any player in the NFLs stats to improve them to better represent what you think of their skills in real life, who would you chose and why?ET3: I would chose myself (laughs), you know what, I only play with the Seahawks. Obviously I think that Russell (Wilson) and Marshawn (Lynch) should be 98s and up, or 97s on up, but I always control myself well with my own skills (laughs).DZ: Every major city has a music artist that sums up the unique characteristics of that place, but Seattle has been the birthplace of quite a few well known artists. Quincy Jones, Jimmy Hendrix, Sir Mix A-Lot and of course most recently, Macklemore. In your opinion, what homegrown artist do you believe best represents the city of Seattle?ET3: Well, right now, I really believe in movements and whats going on right now, and who has the biggest influence on the crowd and I would have to say Macklemore, because thats whats going on right now. You know, you have to respect what hes doing, no matter how different hes doing it, and people are actually influenced in a positive way by the movement, so I support it! I actually gave him a pair of my cleats.(Photo credit: @macklemore )ET3: Oh yeah, hes a good dude. My favourite artist right now, who I think is making one of the biggest movements is Drake.DZ: Oh yeah, of course. Thats from my hometown, so its always great to hear that. Im a big fan as well.ET3: Thats all I listen to, I love his mindset, I love the way he thiinks, hes unique in the way he attacks his craft.dddddddddddd. I love it.(Photo credit: Action Photos)DZ: Yeah, Id say before him, most people in Toronto werent used to hearing well known rappers referencing the city, calling out to things in our region. Hes definitely done us proud, and I think its pretty cool how much he represents Toronto.ET3: For sure.DZ: Theres been rumblings that Seattle might get considered for an NHL team. What would you rather see happen first, NHL hockey in Seattle or the NBA coming back?ET3: I would have to say NBA, because I would be at every game with my own personal seat. Ive really envisioned this in my head, Im very visual, Im a dreamer (laughs). So I envision my own little seat, with me and my two girls, my girl and my daughter, and were right there court-side cheering on the Sonics. LeBron coming to town, you know, and all these big names coming to town, and I would have my seat.(Photo credit: NBA)DZ: Would you keep the name of the team, keep it as Sonics, or do you have another idea of what they could change the name to?ET3: You know you gotta stick with the Sonics, you cant erase history man, and you love positive stuff that brings good influence to this community and that basketball team definitely did.DZ: Have you ever been to a hockey game before?ET3: You know what I never have, thats probably why I picked the NBA.DZ: Well if you ever come up to Canada youve definitely gotta check it out!ET3: Definitely.DZ: So youve teamed up with Duracell on a campaign thats going to help expand the NFL experience for fans in Canada, could you tell me a little bit about it?ET3: Im teaming up with Duracell to help power up the Canadian fan base. Its an awesome opportunity for me to meet up with the fans up there, give them an opportunity to play against me on Xbox, and just help spread the love of the NFL up there.DZ: Alright, lets say youre stuck waiting for a flight in the airport and you dont have your phone or mp3 player on you. You also only have two AA Duracells on you. Which of these devices gets the juice? A Walkman from the 90s with your favourite cassette, an original game boy with your favourite game, or the TV remote that will allow you to change the seating areas TV to whatever youd like.ET3: Probably my cassette player so I can listen to some music and just flow and think! Turn it up real loud and just let whatever happens happen (laughs).DZ: Whats one of your favourite old time cassettes from when you were younger?ET3: We really didnt have much growing up, so I made everything. I would listen to 106 & Park growing up, and I would hit record on this recorder I had, and it was a blank tape, and just let it record what was going on on 106 & Park, and I would just rap over or sing over it, just having fun (laughs).DZ: And our final question for you: Can you go BarDown?ET3: I really dont know, but that doesnt sound attractive (laughs).DZ: (laughs) Well all it is, is when you score a goal in hockey, or even in soccer, and it hits the top crossbar and goes into the net.ET3: Wow! Okay.DZ: We gotta invite you up here sometime and get you to try it out (laughs).ET3: (laughs) Definitely man, you gotta show me that. Like I said before, Im a very visual person, so I can kinda get the gist of what youre saying more if I saw it.With over 650 Duracell Quantum batteries helping to power each and every NFL game, Duracell is now turning its attention towards powering the Canadian fan experience. To hear more on Duracells impact on any given Sunday, you can visit their YouTube channel, and make sure to check out the NFL Tail Gate website for your chance to win a trip to the Super Bowl for you and a friend by entering the #TrustedEverySunday contest. ' ' '