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CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Andrea Petkovic remembered why she started playing tennis and along the way gave everyone else a reminder about how talented she is when shes at her best. The 26-year-old from Germany, who fell from ninth in the world in 2011 to 177th two years later, capped a stunning run to the Family Circle Cup title on Sunday, Petkovics first win in three years. She outlasted Jana Cepelova 7-5, 6-2 in the finals. "I just wanted to get back to why I started playing tennis, because I had fun playing it and because I love the sport," said Petkovic, whose progresses was slowed by several injuries that cost her much of 2012. The climb back was painful at times. Petkovic wanted to quit the game after falling in French Open qualifying last year and wondered if shed ever feel success at the sport again. So she decided to play for fun and not for the wins. "I just needed to remind myself and it came together this week, and Im very thrilled about that," she said. Petkovic entered this one seeded 14th, ranked 40th in the world and with few expectations about her first clay-court event of the season. Instead, Petkovics powerful forehand and grind-it-out mindset helped her oust three straight top 10 seeds in No. 4 Sabine Lisicki, No. 9 Lucie Safarova and No. 6 Eugenie Bouchard on the way to the finals. Petkovic used that same formula against Cepelova, a rising 20-year-old from Slovakia competing in her first WTA final. Cepelova led 5-4 and was a point away from capturing the first set. But Petkovic rallied to win that game and begin a run of eight in a row to take control of the match. "I have to let loose and play like I can," she told herself. Petkovic was energized after winning the crucial game and quickly broke serve to move in front. She took the set a game later and continued her run to build a 5-0 lead that Cepelova could not overcome. For Petkovic, the victory was more gratifying than her two other career WTA wins because of all her struggles. This "is a different feeling," she said. "Now, Im much more grateful. Its more rewarding." Petkovic dropped to the ground when Cepelovas final shot landed out of play. She jogged to the net to hug her opponent, waved to the crowd and did a celebration dance as fans applauded. She let her fun side shine through all week. She joked in postgame comments she might get a bit crazy on the flight back home, dancing with flight attendants and drinking champagne from her latest trophy. "Im going to have champagne and I dont even drink champagne," she said. "But Im going to have it for the heck of it." Petkovic earned $120,000 for her third career WTA victory, which was her first since winning in Strasbourg in 2011. Petkovics victory closed a week of surprises at the Family Circle Tennis Center. Only one of the tournaments top 10 seeds made it through to the final four and it was the first time a WTA tournament included three semifinalists 20 years old or younger since Amelia Island in 2008. Cepelova had a stunning run of her own, topping world No. 1 Serena Williams on Tuesday night to set the stage for plenty more unexpected results. Cepelova became the Family Circle Cups first unseeded finalist since Elena Vesnina in 2011. Cepelova didnt expect a long visit here, arriving without her coach, trainers and hitting partners. She typically ordered room service at the hotel and had to scrape around to find hitting partners to warm up before matches. "Before the tournament, if somebody told me youll be in the tournament finals I would not believe them," Cepelova said with a smile. "But it was a really nice week." Cepelova is also projected to move up some 30 spots in the rankings to around 50th in the world when the new list comes out next week, the WTA said. Petkovic won the title in her second appearance here. She had reached the round of 16 last year, but had to withdraw from a match against Caroline Wozniacki. She was on the phone with her father, Zoran, after the win. Father and daughter now have Palmetto State success in common. Zoran Petkovic was one of the leading singles players at the University of South Carolina in the early 1980s. He told his daughter stories of how Americans on campus loved wearing "cowboy boots and blue jeans," she recalled, laughing. "He was very happy, very emotional," Andrea Petkovic said of their phone call. "I dont know if he was tearing up, though." Cheap Nike Vapormax China . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots. Nike Vapormax Wholesale . Josh Mazzola drove in five runs to lead the Goldeyes (20-12) past the Capitales 11-5 Friday night at Le Stade Municipal in Quebec City. http://www.cheapairvapormax.com/. Nikolai Khabibulin was yanked in the second period, and the Ottawa Senators looked ready to put away a big road win. Cheap Nike Air Vapormax Plus . The pair ended pointless droughts when they each scored two goals in a 6-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets that halted a two-game losing skid for the Stars (15-11-5). Cheap Air Vapormax From China .4 seconds left and dribbled up court, weaving through Pitts defence.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- LeGarrette Blount made one last big splash into a soggy end zone. The powerful back finished his 35-yard touchdown run up the left sideline by flopping with outstretched arms and capping the New England Patriots 34-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in a steady downpour Sunday. The victory gave the Patriots a first-round bye and the Gillette Stadium field an extra week to dry out. "He carried the team on his back most of the day," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. The rain "got worse as the game went along. It was definitely a running game." Blount rushed for a career-high 189 yards, returned two kickoffs for 145 and set a club record with 334 all-purpose yards. The Patriots (12-4) obtained Blount in an off-season trade with Tampa Bay and he shared playing time with other backs since then. On Sunday, the 250-pounder led the charge. He also scored on a 36-yard run and set up a touchdown and field goal with kickoff returns of 83 and 62 yards. The extra point after his 35-yarder put the Patriots ahead 34-20 with 2:31 left. "Every time I play I try my best to come out with the mindset to make a contribution to any part of the game, whether its kick returns or running the ball or catching it," Blount said. After his second touchdown, he hugged Belichick, who had a towel draped over his shoulders. Tom Brady was content to hand the ball off rather than throw through rain drops against a team leading the NFL in sacks and second in interceptions. "The water on the field at the end, it was just puddles," he said. Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals as the Patriots earned their eighth bye in Belichicks 14 seasons. The Bills (6-10) missed the playoffs for the 14th straight year, the leagues longest current streak. They won their previous two games. "It would be much different if we were ending on a three-game winning streak," Bills coach Doug Marrone said. "To say that youre close or anything like that, until you win we dont have a leg to stand on." New England won its 13th straight home game against Buffalo, including 12-0 since Gillette opened in 2002. The Patriots have the second seed and play in two weeks at home, where theyre 8-0. Denver, which beat Oakland, has the top seed. New England began its game with a chance to finish in any of the AFCs top four playoff spots.dddddddddddd "We put together a great season, but it doesnt matter much now," Brady said. The Bills played without quarterback EJ Manuel, who has a small tear in a left knee ligament, and wide receiver Stevie Johnson, excused for the second straight game after his mothers death. Backup Thad Lewis threw a 12-yard scoring pass to T.J. Graham late in the third quarter and led an 80-yard drive capped by Fred Jacksons 5-yard run with 10:20 remaining. After each of those touchdowns Blount had his long kickoff returns. His 83-yarder set up Bradys 5-yard scoring pass to Shane Vereen, followed by a 2-point conversion pass that made it 24-10. The 62-yarder led to Gostkowskis fourth field goal, a 35-yarder that put the Patriots ahead 27-17. The Bills turned over the ball on downs on their next possession. "Of course the ball is wet," Buffalo wide receiver Robert Woods said, "but we still have to make plays and catch the ball." Before the Patriots ran the next play, "Singin in the Rain" blared over the public address system, and drenched fans sang along. Then Manny Lawson intercepted Bradys pass and the Bills capitalized with Dan Carpenters 37-yard field goal. Buffalo tried an onside kick, but Nate Ebner recovered for New England. Blount then ran 10 yards before scoring his second touchdown on the next play. The game even featured a punt by Brady on third-and-32 from his 46-yard line midway through the third quarter with the score 16-3. It travelled 32 yards, where Jim Leonhard made a fair catch. "It could have been a lot better," Brady said. Brady finished 14 of 24 for 122 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Lewis went 16 for 29 for 247 yards and a touchdown. C.J. Spiller led the Bills with 105 yards rushing. NOTES: Bills tackle Marcell Dareus was benched for the first half for violating a team rule. In Buffalos previous game he was benched for the first quarter, also for violating a team rule. ... The previous Patriots record for all-purpose yards was 273 by Larry Garron in 1962 at Buffalo. ... Carpenters 51-yard field goal that tied the game at 3 made him the first player in Bills history with four field goals of at least 50 yards or more in a season. ' ' '