ROME -- Novak Djokovic marked his return from a right wrist injury by beating Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of the Italian Open on Tuesday. Antoine Cason Blue Jersey . With both new coach Boris Becker and long-time adviser Marian Vajda on hand, Djokovic showed no signs of pain after withdrawing from last weeks Madrid Open. The second-ranked Serbs only trouble came as he attempted to close the match out, dropping his serve twice late in the second set before eventually finishing it off. Djokovic, a two-time Rome champion, committed just nine unforced errors to Stepaneks 27. It was a sharp contrast from Djokovics last match, when he lost to Roger Federer in the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals last month, when he had his wrist heavily strapped and was unable to serve or return at his usual level. In first-round womens play, Italian wild-card entry Camila Giorgi upset ninth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a match delayed briefly due to rain, and 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy eliminated Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 7-5, 6-3. The 22-year-old Giorgi, who reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Open last year as a qualifier, showed off her attacking game, stepping into the court to whip winners into the corners at every opportunity. Making her Rome main-draw debut, Giorgi had loud support on the picturesque Pietrangeli court, which is lined with neo-classical statues. "The pressure is positive. Its great that the fans come to see you," Giorgi said. "Playing at home happens only once per year." This tournament is the last key clay-court warmup before the French Open, which starts in two weeks. Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal, Federer and womens title-holder Serena Williams open play Wednesday. Jonathan Stewart Womens Jersey . Justin Upton homered and scored the tiebreaking run on Chris Johnsons eighth-inning single, and the Atlanta Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Tuesday night to end their seven-game skid. Dwan Edwards Authentic Jersey . "I just want to help, just want to have fun, just want to play," Yakupov told reporters on Tuesday. The first overall pick from 2012 added that head coach Dallas Eakins doesnt trust him and something needs to be done.INDIANAPOLIS - Lance Stephenson wiggled his hips after a nasty crossover move. Paul George gestured to the crowd with his shooting eye and Danny Granger showed everyone he still has the touch. This is starting to get fun for the Eastern Conferences winningest team. Stephenson finished with his third triple-double this season, George scored 24 points and Granger made four 3-pointers as the Pacers overwhelmed Boston 106-79 on Sunday to ruin coach Brad Stevens return to his hometown. "Were starting the game off with high energy and were ending the game with high energy and in between were maintaining that energy," George said. "It wears teams down, and I think thats been the case these past couple games." Indiana (22-5) is taking full advantage of it, too. Since losing at home for the first time Monday and then losing at Miami on Wednesday, their first back-to-back losses of the season, the Pacers have been almost untouchable. They led for the final 38 minutes against Boston (12-17) and the final 41 against Houston on Friday. They have the best record in the East and are making things look easy. Stephenson finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and remains the NBAs only player with multiple triple-doubles this season. George, who is lobbying for Stephenson to make the All-Star team, has made 16 of 29 shots over the last two games. Roy Hibbert had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Granger, who missed all but five games last season with a left knee injury and the first 25 this season with a strained left calf, was 4 of 5 on 3s. He scored 12 against Boston and has 17 points this season after scoring 27 all of last season. Perhaps thats why Stevens, a lifelong Indiana fan, called this the best Pacers team hes seen in his lifetime. "Adding Granger is scary," Stevens said. "I think the more comfortable he gets, the better theyll be. I think theyre already if not the leader for the hunt, theyre in the hunt." The resume proves it. Indiana has won two straight, beating the Rockets, a Western Conference contender, and the Celtics, who entered Sunday tied for the Atlantic Division lead, by a combined 60 points. The 33 and 27-point victory margins are the two most lopsided wins Indiana has had all season, though the Pacers beat Milwaukee by 27 last month, and its only the second time theyve topped 100 poiints in consecutive games this season. Antoine Cason Panthers Jersey. The Pacers also will have a chance to pad their lead over the next couple of weeks. Sundays game marked the start of a 12-game stretch in which the Pacers will face 11 teams that currently have losing records. "We are a tough basketball team, we know that we can play, we know that we can improve," George said. "We are having fun out there because we are getting to know each other better." Thats a scary thought, even for Stevens, who was hoping for a much happier homecoming. The Celtics coach grew up in Zionsville, a suburb on the citys northwest side, and led nearby Butler to back-to-back national championship games before taking the Celtics job in July. During pregame introductions, he received a warm, polite reception from the home state crowd, which included his successor, Butler coach Brandon Miller, and his former athletic director, Barry Collier. The Pacers defence wasnt nearly as welcoming. Avery Bradley led the Celtics with 13 points, while Jeff Green and Courtney Lee each scored 11. Nobody else reached double figures. Stephenson was a showman all night, making nifty behind-the-back passes and at times dribbling wildly to shed defenders. So when he hit a 20-foot jumper after sending a Celtics defender sprawling on the ground early in the fourth quarter, he responded to the crowds ovation by wiggling his hips. Pacers coach Frank Vogel likes Stephenson for another reason. "Hes such a gifted passer and playmaker, he gives us a real edge," Vogel said. Boston started well, taking a 15-10 lead after going on a 7-0 run. Things went downhill fast. Indiana finished the first quarter on a 10-2 spurt to take a 20-17 lead. After the Celtics rallied to tie the score at 23 with 8:49 left in the first half, Granger hit two 3-pointers to spur a 15-1 run that turned the game and gave Indiana a commanding 38-24 lead with 5:08 to play in the first half. "Were not a team to make excuses," Jared Sullinger said. "Indiana just came out and kicked our behind. We just have to play better." Notes: The Pacers have won three of the last four and five of the last seven in the series. ... The Celtics have played back-to-back games eight times this season and have now been swept five times. ... Twelve of Indianas 22 wins have come by 10 or more points. cheap jerseys ' ' '
