NEW YORK -- The game that will be talked about for years and years required 198 strokes, 30 points, and 21 minutes to decide. Aaron Rodgers Jersey . Entire sets have taken less. It might be easy to conclude that Novak Djokovic won his tense, topsy-turvy U.S. Open semifinal against Stanislas Wawrinka despite dropping that epic third game of the fifth set. The truth is that the 2011 champion emerged with a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory in 4 hours, 9 minutes on Saturday at least in part because of the one that got away. "Even though I lost that game, I felt like, OK, hes getting a little bit more tired, and maybe this is my chance to step in," Djokovic said. "And thats what I (did)." The No. 1-seeded Djokovic will play No. 2 Rafael Nadal on Monday. Its their record 37th match against each other, their sixth Grand Slam final, and their third meeting for the championship at Flushing Meadows since 2010. Nadal was a 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-2 winner over No. 8 Richard Gasquet of France in Saturdays second semifinal, which was far less competitive than the first. Indeed, the tennis and theatrics at 1-all in the last set alone of Djokovic-Wawrinka were so compelling that the game was interrupted twice by standing ovations. By then, Wawrinkas strained right thigh had been taped after a medical timeout in the fourth set (he would be seized by cramps during his postmatch news conference). Still, he managed to erase five break points and navigate 12 deuces until finally delivering a 123 mph service winner to hold for a 2-1 edge. He stepped gingerly to the sideline, plopped down in his chair and smiled. That grin remained in place throughout the two-minute changeover. If the ninth-seeded Wawrinka was enjoying the moment, perhaps feeling a tad relieved, Djokovic was ever more determined. He responded by taking the next three games, propelling himself to a fourth consecutive title match at Flushing Meadows and fifth since 2007. "I was already quite tired," said Wawrinka, who won the same number of points in the match as Djokovic, 165. "I was already quite dead physically." During his on-court interview, Djokovic took the microphone and posed a question: "How long was that game?" He was told the answer, repeated it, then chuckled. "Well, I was thinking -- I guess everybody was thinking -- Whoever wins this game is going to win the match," the six-time major champion told the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium. "After he won the game, I thought to myself, OK, I guess I have to fight against those odds." The current version of Djokovic, the one who recently published a book about diet and fitness, is nothing if not dogged, able to withstand even the most dire of circumstances. Its why he managed to set aside match points and come back to beat Roger Federer in the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Open semifinals. Its why he was able to beat Nadal in a 2012 Australian Open final that lasted nearly six hours. Its why he was able to win the longest Wimbledon semifinal in history. "At the end, he pushed me," Wawrinka said. "Pushed me far, far, far." Nothing quite that dramatic occurred when 12-time major champion Nadal played Gasquet, who was in his first Grand Slam semifinal since 2007. The most newsworthy moment of their match came right at the 1-hour mark, when Nadal let a forehand drift long to get broken and make it 2-all in the second set. That allowed Gasquet to become the first player to break Nadals serve in the entire tournament, ending a run of 73 holds. There were five other break points for Gasquet, but Nadal saved each while stretching his hard-court record in 2013 to 21-0. A year after missing the U.S. Open because of a bad left knee, Nadal is looking as fit and as impressive as ever. "I dont know if its a victory to (break) his serve. Im not sure about it. I think its better to win one set or more," said Gasquet, now 0-11 against Nadal. In the past, the U.S. Open was the only Grand Slam tournament to schedule the mens semifinals Saturday and the final Sunday, instead of having a day of rest in between. This year, the tournament scrapped that plan and built in an extra 24 hours. As it is, Djokovic said he "didnt find it very fair" that he needed to play at noon Saturday after finishing his quarterfinal at about 11 p.m. Thursday. Nadal and Gasquet played their quarterfinals Wednesday. "I didnt find any logic in that, to be honest," Djokovic said. "But, again, there are some other, I guess, influences that have more power than players, and this has to be changed." On Sunday, while Nadal and Djokovic rest and prepare, No. 1 Serena Williams will play No. 2 Victoria Azarenka for the womens championship. Its the first time both U.S. Open singles finals are 1-2 matchups since 1996. Nadal is 21-15 against Djokovic, but said when they play, it "becomes a very difficult match for both of us. Nadal said hed rather face a less-formidable foe, because wanting to play someone as good as Djokovic would be "stupid." Djokovic, meanwhile, called trying to beat Nadal "the biggest challenge that you can have in our sport now." Dealing with Djokovic and his sliding, arm-stretching defence is no day at the beach, either. Wearing white sunscreen slathered across his cheeks and nose on a sunny afternoon, Wawrinka produced a performance that was fairly similar to the net-rushing surprise he pulled off against defending champion Andy Murray in the quarterfinals. Wawrinka could sense jitters early from Djokovic, who acknowledged afterward he was nervous. That seemed odd, because Djokovic was playing in his 14th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, the second-longest streak in history, and 21st overall. Wawrinka -- long in the shadow of Federer, his Swiss Olympic teammate and good friend -- was in his first. And yet it was Djokovic who double-faulted four times as part of his 14 unforced errors in the first set, while getting broken three times. Djokovic was fraying at the edges. He hit a ball in anger after losing a point, drawing jeers from the stands. He whacked his racket against each arm after a missed backhand return. He kept chatting with his coach, Marian Vajda, and eventually was cited by the chair umpire for a code violation (coaching is not allowed during matches; Djokovic admitted he deserved the warning). When a fan called out right before he netted a backhand, Djokovic raised an arm and yelled, "Shut up!" It didnt help matters that Wawrinka kept finding the mark with his booming serves, which reached 138 mph, his effective forehand and his sweet, one-handed backhand, to the tune of 57 winners, 19 more than Djokovic. "Today I had the feeling that when I was playing my best level, I was better than him," said Wawrinka, who entered the day 2-12 against Djokovic. "But hes not No. 1 for nothing. Thats why he won the match, because he always finds a solution." Slowly but surely Djokovic found ways to bother Wawrinka, in part by forcing more errors off his forehand wing, in part by serving better himself. Wawrinka began showing signs of mental and physical fatigue. There was the problem with his right leg. He swatted a ball toward the upper deck, earning a warning, and later was docked a point for spiking his racket, picking it up and bending it over his knee to completely wreck the frame. Wawrinka egged on fans to get louder and clap longer, soaking it all in -- and getting a bit of a chance to catch his breath. Djokovic at first seemed annoyed, before he, too, waved for more noise. Two games later, a sequence of errors by Wawrinka, capped by a weary backhand, let Djokovic break for a 3-2 lead. "I managed to stay tough and play well when I needed to," Djokovic said. "Thats something that definitely encourages me before the final." Mason Crosby Jersey . The veteran fighter will be squaring off with Henderson in a five-round lightweight bout as part of another network televised card at the United Center on Saturday night. Jaire Alexander Jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to win two straight games for the first time since mid-January on Monday night as they play host to the struggling New York Islanders. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/custom-jug-girard-jersey-large-972r.html . -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After Golden States difficult road loss two nights ago in Oklahoma City, Stephen Curry was anxious to avoid a repeat performance Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. The dynamic guard came up with big play after big play, none bigger than his two free throws with 8.6 seconds left that helped the Warriors edge the Kings 115-113. Curry made five 3-pointers, scored 36 points and also added 10 assists for the Warriors, who had lost two straight and five of six. It was the sixth time in his career that Curry had matched or exceeded 30 points and 10 assists. The first five came in his rookie season. The Friday loss to Oklahoma City had been especially painful. Russell Westbrooks 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left in overtime gave the Thunder a 113-112 victory. "Its been frustrating of late, not being able to close out games, especially on the road," Curry said. "Everyone pitched in. It was a good learning lesson for us to continue to stick to the program." Klay Thompson connected on a career-high eight 3-pointers and added 28 points. Golden State hit 15 of 25 3s (60 per cent). Curry is in a terrific grove, making 15 of 28 over the last three games. "They are good players and tough to cover," Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins said. "In the beginning we didnt make it difficult for them. Later in the game we did. If we had done that early on maybe it would have been a different game." The Warriors had a 16-point lead in the third quarter and led by 10 entering the fourth. But the Kings rallied and took the lead several times in the fourth, when they outscored Golden State 33-25. After Currys two free throws broke a 113-all tie, Andrew Bogut blocked a driving reverse layup by Isaiah Thomas in the closing seconds and grabbed the rebound to secure the victory. "I saw Klay get beat and had an idea Isaiah would not be going up against me on the right side," said Bogut, who had 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. "I kind of read it and thankfully I got the block." Harrison Barnes and David Lee had 11 points for the Warriors, who ended a four-game road trip with a 2-2 record. In foul trouble throughout, Cousins had 24 points in just over 20 minutes. Marcus Thornton hit five 3-pointers and scored all of his 21 points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth. Thomas had 19 points and eight assists, but also committed seven of Sacramentos season-high 24 turnovers that led to 33 Warrior points. Patrick Patterson scored 18 points and Jason Thompson added 10. It was another frustrating loss for the Kings, who have droppeed four straight overall and are now 3-7 at home. Tobin Rote Jersey. "I think a lot of those turnovers today was us being soft and us telegraphing our passes," Thomas said. "Especially in the second quarter when I had four or five turnovers. Two or three of them I just telegraphed - they knew where it was going." Trailing by two points twice with under a minute to play, Cousins responded with a pair of basket from close range, the second one tying the game at 113 with 12.6 seconds left. A 3-pointer by Thomas put the Kings in front 104-102 with 3:51 left. But Thompsons corner 3 and a jumper by Curry put the Warriors on top, 107-106. With the Kings down by 11 points, Thornton made a 3 to ignite a 12-2 run. Cousins ended the surge by converting a layup and making two free throws to cut Golden States lead to 100-96. "What I like about our guys is that it could have been a 16-point deficit that turned into 30, but it turned into a two-point lead and giving ourselves a chance to win," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "We were only one defensive rebound away from winning the game." After a strong first half, it was Thompson and Curry continuing their perimeter success in the third quarter, when they combined for five 3-pointers. Curry scored 11 points and Thompson had three 3-pointers and nine points, giving Golden State a 90-80 heading into the fourth. "I have a great backcourt with two guys that can light up a scoreboard," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "The thing that I love most about them is people fall in love with shooting, which is the obvious, but they compete. They have really developed into a good defensive tandem. I thought both guys did an outstanding job on the defensive end." Cousins was called for his fourth foul at the 7:45 mark of the third quarter. He argued the call and was quickly given his fifth technical of the season and went to the bench with the Kings trailing 66-59. Warriors starting forward Andre Iguodala sat out his fifth straight game with a left hamstring strain. Notes: The arena power went out during pregame introductions and lasted for 12 minutes. When power was restored, the Kings introduction was skipped and the game had no public address announcer until midway through the first quarter. . Historically, this has been a competitive matchup, with the Warriors holding a 187-185 edge. . Three Kings starters, including Cousins, had two fouls by the midway point in the opening quarter. . Warriors reserve guard Toney Douglas, who played with the Kings last year, has missed the last 11 games with a stress problem in his lower left leg. ' ' '