said. The game is more important than your name.

NEW YORK -- Juan Martin del Potros magical month ended as it began -- with the big Argentine crying on the court.This time, he wiped away tears with the match still going. Stan Wawrinka was about to serve out a four-set victory to usher an exhausted del Potro out of the U.S. Open, and the hardy faithful who stuck around past 1 a.m. wanted to serenade their beloved 2009 champ one more time.Ole, ole, ole, Delpo, Delpo! rang down from Arthur Ashe Stadium as Wawrinka respectfully waited to serve. Thank you, the chair umpire said, pleading for silence to no avail.Del Potro squinted hard and bowed his head and finally applauded with his racket. Then the third-seeded Wawrinka closed out a 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach his second straight U.S. Open semifinal.I can lose the match, but I will never forget this, del Potro said. Its bigger than any match. ... They made me so happy tonight, and I dont mind the score.It was 32 days earlier that del Potro played his first match at the Rio Olympics -- which he figured would be his last because he drew top-ranked Novak Djokovic. After three left wrist surgeries, del Potro lacked the conditioning -- not to mention the two-handed backhand -- to compete with the best. Or so he thought.Del Potro beat Djokovic that night. And sobbed afterward. The wins kept coming, and so did the tears, through a victory over a just-as-exhausted Rafael Nadal to clinch a medal, and then after a grueling four-set loss to Andy Murray in the final.With little time to rest as he received a heros welcome back in Argentina, the 142nd-ranked del Potro entered his first U.S. Open since 2013 as a wild card. The adoring crowds willed him to victory in round after round, so appreciative of his efforts to come back from the wrist problems that nearly ended his career.They couldnt quite do it in a 3-hour, 13-minute quarterfinal that ended at 1:20 a.m. Thursday. Del Potro had defeated Wawrinka in the second round at Wimbledon in the initial hint that the Argentine could contend again. But in the rematch, Wawrinka adjusted his tactics in the third set.He started standing farther back on del Potros serves, setting himself up to push his opponent from sideline to sideline in long rallies. Wawrinka needed to save a match point in a five-set third-round match, but now hes in Fridays semifinals against sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori.Its not a player that I can really play always the way I want because hes so aggressive, Wawrinka said of del Potro. It was important to stay tough there. I knew it will be difficult. But Im happy with the way I was fighting, with myself. Im happy with the way I find solutions in the third set to take advantage.Maybe if del Potro had won the opening set, he could have prevailed in three. He was up a break in the first, but after too many mistakes, he lost in a tiebreaker that left him punching his own head in frustration. It was the first set hed dropped all tournament.But mostly there was joy on the court. During that tiebreaker, he argued that Wawrinka challenged a call too late, then wound up playfully rubbing the chair umpires head.Del Potros ranking will skyrocket into the top 65 next week -- no more needing wild cards into the majors. He looks forward to an offseason to hone his conditioning so he can hang with a player like Wawrinka in a best-of-five match.Now Im fighting at the same level as the top guys, and I already beat Djokovic, Rafa. I played against Murray in a great match, del Potro said. Wawrinka is the No. 3 player in the world, and Im there. That means something good to me.But I need to keep working. Mike Piazza Dodgers Jersey . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Max Muncy Dodgers Jersey .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-chris-taylor-jersey/ . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Julio Urias Dodgers Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Corey Seager Dodgers Jersey . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. DENVER -- Foul trouble kept Nikola Jokic from playing more minutes the past two games. He showed what he can do when he stays on the floor.Jokic had 27 points and 15 rebounds, Gary Harris scored a career-high 24 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the Dallas Mavericks 117-107 on Monday night.Jokic finished an assist shy of his first career triple-double and tied his career high in points to help the Nuggets win their third straight game. Emmanuel Mudiay scored 18 points.Jokic averaged only 20 minutes in the first two games of the homestand after committing five fouls each game. It derailed potential big nights, but he had just one foul against the Mavericks and dominated.Mike told me he was going to beat me if I made more stupid fouls, Jokic said of coach Michael Malone. I listened.Deron Williams led Dallas with 23 points and eight assists.Denvers recent offensive surge started after its 20-point loss in Dallas on Dec. 12. Malone shook up his starting lineup and the Nuggets have responded by scoring 30 or more points in eight of the last 12 quarters and are averaging 125.3 points since the change.Theyve gotten it done with contributions from different players and Harris was a big contributor Monday. The third-year guard out of Michigan State is averaging 19.3 points since returning from a foot injury.He has three games back and I dont think its a coincidence that we have won three games in a row, Malone said.Harris got the Nuggets started early, scoring 16 in the first half as Denver overcame a 16-point deficit to lead by two at the break. The lead grew to 12 in the third but Dallas made a run to get within six late in the fourth. Jokic hit a 3-pointer, a short jumper and fed Wilson Chandler for a layup for his ninth assist.When you have a guy playing that well you want hhim to get it, teammate Jameer Nelson said of the triple-double.dddddddddddd Thats a heck of an accomplishment for an individual. It means hes playing the game the right way.Jokic had a chance for his 10th assist but Mudiay missed his only 3-pointer off a pass. Jokic wasnt concerned about missing out on the feat.It doesnt really matter, he said. The game is more important than your name.The M.avericks ran out of gas after playing Sunday afternoon.They wore us down as the game went on, Williams said They came out and hit a lot of 3s in the second half and got the lead. We battled but we couldnt outlast them.TIP-INSMavericks: G J.J. Barea returned to the lineup after missing a month with a strained right calf. He had 11 points in 13 minutes. ... Andrew Bogut (right knee) and Dirk Nowitzki (right Achilles) are hoping to return for the start of 2017.Nuggets: G Jamal Murray played despite a sore right foot. He had three points in 14 minutes. ... C Jusuf Nurkic didnt play a game after logging just eight minutes.TALL TALEMavericks coach Rick Carlisle joked before Mondays game that Jokic was taller than his listed 6-foot-11.Thats (ridiculous). He is probably like 7-4, Carlisle said. His arms are crazy long. Hes a guy thats plays an on-the-floor game but he is some player. Some of his passing is ridiculously creative and he can make shots. We know he can grab it and put in the basket because he did it about six times last game.He was equally impressed after Mondays performance.He kicked our (butt) last game too, he said. Its not a surprise; hes good.UP NEXTMavericks: At Portland on Wednesday night.Nuggets: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. ' ' '