LONDON -- Her champions heart still beat with life and hope. Venus Williams had played through seemingly endless deuces. Swatted away break points. A burst of energy got her to deuce one more time, and she capitalized by walloping a desperate inside-out forehand winner.Then Williams opponent did her part. Angelique Kerber, up a set, missed a service return and saw her second-set lead trimmed to 3-2. Williams still had a chance. She might still find a way to win this Wimbledon semifinal.Williams trudged to her chair, breathing through parted lips. She sat, a blank look on her face. She popped the red plastic cap on her water bottle, took a sip. She closed her eyes, as if something she didnt particularly care to read were written in the air in front of her. The message might have been: Youre 36 years old. Youve had a great run. But all good things come to an end.Trailing 3-2. So close, but so far. It had cost so much effort. Her legs had stood her in good stead through five matches, providing sufficient spring to launch wicked serves, explosive first steps, on-a-dime changes of direction and minor midpoint stance adjustments. Now they were flagging as she faced Kerber, an extremely clever ball striker.The 28-year-old German knew exactly what she wanted to do. She was aware of Williams age. She knew Williams suffers from an autoimmune condition that causes fatigue and joint pain. She knew her opponents history at Wimbledon.?Kerber said she was too busy taking care of things on her own side of the net to notice if Williams was a little slow or tired.I know that she played long matches, in the first week especially, Kerber said after she eliminated Williams 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday in an hour and 12 minutes. I was trying to moving her. That was the plan. That is always the plan when you play against Venus, because when she have the ball on the racket, yeah, she just hits the ball from left to right, and you just run.Kerber, the No. 4 seed, has had trouble handling the pressure of her status as a Grand Slam champion after her breakthrough win at the Australian Open in January. The versatile left-hander had no trouble curbing the stress Thursday.Ever stoic, 8-seed Williams refused to blame fatigue -- or any factor but Kerbers proficiency -- for the loss: She played so well. Just credit to her for playing well. Second [Grand Slam] final of the year. It shows shes doing something right.It was clear from the outset of the match that almost two full weeks of work, often under circumstances that might have warranted extra pay for the wet, hazardous conditions, had finally taken a toll on Williams. The first week, overflowing with stops and starts, was as emotionally wearing as it was sloppy and fitful. Williams passed grueling three-set tests in the second and third rounds (her win in the latter took two hours and 24 minutes). She celebrated with a pair of knockout wins in the next two rounds to reach the semis.Williams and Kerber both struggled to serve early in Thursdays match. Kerber, whose second serve is vulnerable, admitted she was feeling the jitters. Williams took advantage. Kerber is an excellent returner. Williams, whose serve is usually explosive, lacked spring in her legs. Kerber took advantage.I dont know what was the problem, Kerber said. I think we both were returning very well at the beginning of the first set. I mean, I was a little bit nervous when I go out there because I was trying to playing my best tennis.Williams quickly went two breaks down in the first set. She never led in the match. Her fatigue is written all over the stat sheet:Only 15 percent of her serves went unreturned -- her lowest number in her six Wimbledon matches this year.She won by far her lowest percentage of first-serve points (57 percent; next lowest was 65 percent).She clocked her second-lowest average first serve speed.She didnt hit a single service-return winner.She produced her worst performance of the tournament in rallies lasting longer than nine shots. Williams won just two of nine such points; in her opening match, she won 11 of 19.Still, Williams dug in and earned back one of those first-set breaks. She pressed hard when Kerber served for the set at 5-4 but just didnt have enough power to break through. Discouraged, Williams gave up an early second-set break. She staved off a rout with that hold in the 3-1 game, but the American was unable to keep Kerber from rolling to the win.I played against a lot of great opponents. I had a lot of tough matches. Its not easy out there, Williams reminded reporters afterward. Reflecting on the threat she posed for so long in this tournament at her age, she added, Yeah, in life there is no such thing as impossible. Its always possible. Thats what you feel as an athlete. Pretty much our job is to make the impossible happen every day. Its like magic, you know. I like that. Custom Jerseys Adidas . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Custom Kansas City Royals Jerseys . 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CLEVELAND -- Brandon Guyer was playing for a last-place team until a trade Aug. 1.On Tuesday night, his first career game-ending hit moved his Cleveland Indians closer to their first AL Central title in nearly a decade.Guyer singled in a run with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Indians over the Kansas City Royals 2-1 to reduce Clevelands magic number for the division to six.Cleveland leads Detroit by seven games and hasnt won the Central since 2007.Guyer was acquired from the struggling Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline, and now hes contributing to a team on the brink of the postseason.Its kind of a first for me, he said. Were loose and not thinking about it much, knowing if we go out and play our game, good things are going to happen.Guyers hit off Joakim Soria landed just fair in the right-field corner and scored Coco Crisp. Guyer was the third pinch-hitter of the inning used by manager Terry Francona.Brian Flynn (1-2) walked Jose Ramirez to start the ninth, then fumbled a bunt by Crisp, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall, down the first-base line for an error.Catcher Salvador Perez threw Ramirez out at third on Abraham Almontes sacrifice attempt. Rajai Davis, batting for Tyler Naquin, hit a hard ground ball that deflected off Sorias foot and rolled to first baseman Eric Hosmer for the out.Guyer, batting for Roberto Perez, then delivered with the winner that fell in despite a sliding effort by right fielder Paulo Orlando.I wasnt sure if it was going to be fair or foul, Guyer said. I rounded first base and saw the umpire say fair and I started celebrating.The Royals, the reigning World Series champions, will be eliminated from contention in the division if they lose to Cleveland on Wednesday night.The ball was fair by a couple of inches, where you cant get to it, Royals manager Ned Yost said.Kansas City advanced a runner to third with one out in the eighth, but Andrew Miller (9-1) struck out pinchh-hitter Christian Colon and Whit Merrifield before retiring the side in order in the ninth.ddddddddddddCarlos Santana led off the third with his 33rd home run. Alex Gordons RBI single tied the game in the fifth.Royals starter Edinson Volquez gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings.JOSHS CHANCEIndians starter Josh Tomlin allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings.Tomlin, because of injuries to Carlos Carrasco (broken right hand) and Danny Salazar (strained right forearm), will be in the postseason rotation if the Indians advance. He began the season 9-1 but was sent to the bullpen after going 0-5 in August.Carrasco and Danny are a key part of that rotation, Tomlin said. Were trying to do the best we can to help win the Central and get into the playoffs and play deep into the playoffs.CALL US BACK, OK?Right-hander Tyler Plutko learned he was being promoted to the Indians in a most unusual fashion -- while he was a groomsman in his best friends wedding Saturday in California.They had literally just got done saying `I do and taking pictures, he said. It was in the middle of the wedding. I couldnt take the phone call right away, ended up calling them back and they said I got to get to Cleveland.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left wrist inflammation), who last played on Sept. 9 at the White Sox, is traveling with the team.Indians: Pitching coach Mickey Callaway said theres a small chance Salazar will be available in the bullpen if Cleveland makes the playoffs. Salazar hasnt pitched since Sept. 9 but played catch at 60 feet Tuesday.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Ian Kennedy is unbeaten in his last 10 starts, going 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA. His last road loss occurred July 1 at Philadelphia.Indians: RHP Corey Kluber seeks his career high-tying 18th victory. He is 9-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 15 home starts this season. ' ' '