After disappointing losses and scary setbacks, No. 1 Serena Williams is a once again the champ, winning her third Bank of the West Classic title after dropping Germany's Angelique Kerber 7-6 (7-1), 6-3. Yesterday's win didn't come easy, as Kerber was up 5-1 early on, before a comeback that only Serena could puff off. "I blinked my eye and I was down 1-5. Angelique was playing well and I thought 'What's going on?' I tried to relax, not to think about anything and just do the right thing. It's a good thing that it happened. When I'm not playing great I know I can make some kind of comeback," Williams said after the win. With the US Open just around the corner, this win will give Serena plenty of momentum as she looks to regain her footing at Grand Slam events. She's struggled this year at the Australian Open, French Open, and most recently, Wimbledon, so she's overdue for a big win later this month.
From Washington, the men's Citi Open was decided as Milos Raonic defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-4 for the title. Pospisil came into the finals looking good, with wins over No. 1 Tomas Berdych and a semifinals win over No. 6 Richard Gasquet, but Raonic proved to be the better player on Sunday with a decisive win.
On the links, the Bridgestone Invitational came to a close as Rory McIlroy continued his winning ways, finishing 15 under par and taking home over $1.5 mil in earnings. Catch Rory's kicks, plus the sneakers worn by Serena and Milos Raonic, yesterday's best MLB cleats, and the standout cleats of the NFL preseason opener after the break.
Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things pop culture, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.
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Milos Raonic Wins Citi Open Title in the New Balance 996
Shoe: New Balance MC 996
Player: Milos Raonic
Game: vs. Vasek Pospisil (Citi Open Finals)
Key Stat: 6-1, 6-4
Madison Bumgarner Shuts Out Mets in the NB 4040v2
Shoe: New Balance 4040v2
Player: Madison Bumgarner
Game: San Francisco vs. NYM
Key Stat: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 10 K
Hunter Pence Explodes with 2 HRs, 4 RBIs in the Mizuno Advanced Classic
Shoe: Mizuno Advanced Classic Low
Player: Hunter Pence
Game: San Francisco vs. NYM
Key Stat: 3-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R
$100
Danny Santana Goes 5-6 in the New Balance 4040v2
Shoe: New Balance 4040v2
Player: Danny Santana
Game: Minnesota vs. CHW
Key Stat: 5-6, 4 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 SB
Ryan Nassib Throws for 139 Yards in the Alpha Talon Elite 2
Shoe: Nike Alpha Talon Elite 2
Player: Ryan Nassib
Game: NYG vs. Buffalo
Key Stat: 139 yards, 1 TD
$90
Stephen Strasburg Strikes Out 10 Batters in the Huarache Pro Low
Shoe: Nike Air Huarache Pro Low
Player: Stephen Strasburg
Game: Washington vs. Philadelphia
Key Stat: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 10 K
$55
Serena Wins Bank of the West Classic in Unreleased Mid-Top Nikes
Shoe: Unreleased Mid-Top Nikes
Player: Serena Williams
Game: Bank of the West Classic
Key Stat: 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
TBD
Rory McIlroy Wins Again in the Nike Lunar Control
Shoe: Nike Lunar Control
Player: Rory McIlroy
Game: Bridgestone Invitational
Key Stat: -15, 265 total
$160
