LONDON -- Everything is falling into place for Novak Djokovic at the World Tour Finals, which will make a welcome change, given some of his tribulations the past six months.On Thursday, we will be spared a potential second-round clash between the Serb and Gael Monfils, who withdrew from the Tour Finals because of a rib injury he picked up last month in Stockholm.Monfils rope-a-dope tactics infuriated those inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and beguiled Djokovic in their US Open semifinal clash just a couple months ago. No one is probably happier to see Monfils exit the tournament than Djokovic, who won that match in four difficult sets.?You know, you work so hard for this moment, then [to] not be able [to] play your best is a huge deception for me, Monfils said in a news conference Wednesday. To not be able to finish it, I attempted to play in two matches. I have a couple of stuff I wanted to show. Im disappointed.One mans loss is anothers gain, though, and now alternate David Goffins trip to London wont be as just a tourist.There will be pride on the line in Thursdays afternoon session. Like all the original members of Group Ivan Lendl, Goffin has never beaten Djokovic. His losing streak stands at four, including a semifinal loss earlier this year in Miami.With a 2-0 record this week, Djokovic is already guaranteed a place in the semifinals as the group winner; little else will be at stake when the Belgian takes on the world No. 2.It is another boost for the 12-time Grand Slam champion, who is seeking a fifth consecutive title here and sixth overall. A championship would guarantee him the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time in six years. Last Monday,?Andy Murray ended Djokovics 122-week reign at the top.Unlike Murray, who faces a tough battle against Stan Wawrinka?on Friday to potentially secure his place in the last four, Djokovic can put his feet up with an extra days rest.It could mean another trip to one of Londons green spots with his family.?Well, Hyde Park is one of the nicest parks there is in this city, Djokovic said of a venture outside earlier this week. Because of its vastness, I guess you have so many different contents: the lake, nature, different amusement for adults and for children. My son is here. Obviously, I try to dedicate my time daily to him, at least in the morning.We take a stride. We play with the ducks and swans, ball, playground. It keeps me relaxed. It keeps me grounded as well. I get to spend time with my family and him, quality time. Its very important.Djokovic just needs to better Murray this week, which has become a more conceivable prospect as the week has progressed. The Scot might be on a 21-match win streak (including four titles), but he faces a nightmare run of three matches in three days, should he make it to the final.Playing a 3-hour, 20-minute marathon against Kei Nishikori?on Wednesday did not help his cause. Murray needed an ice bath after that grueling, three-set win.Although Djokovic doesnt have much on the line Thursday, Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem will compete in a straight shootout in the evening session, with the winner awarded second place -- and the coveted semifinal spot -- in the group.Hes playing well, Raonic said of the 23-year-old Austrian. Hes been doing stuff well throughout this whole year. Just like myself, he played extremely well at the beginning of the year. Hasnt necessarily played his best tennis since.Fortunately for me, I hope it works out that way. This is one of my best surfaces. I dont know if indoor hard courts is necessarily his. So hopefully I can take time away from him and play on my terms and have him react to the things I put forward and try to push him around.As the home stretch of this years ATP World Tour Finals approaches, the players are feeling the building pressure to win or go home. Everyone except Djokovic, that is. Rangers Jerseys China . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Custom Rangers Jersey . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. http://www.custommlbrangersjersey.com/ . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Custom Rangers Jersey China . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Custom Rangers T-shirts . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. ST. LOUIS -- Which Jaime Garcia will take the mound Sunday at Busch Stadium?Will it be the one who has been whacked for 11 runs in nine-plus innings of his last two starts, or will it be the one who lasted eight frames in each of his previous two outings?The answer could decide if the St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their set with the Oakland Athletics on a winning note, or if theyll head for a critical nine-game road trip through the National League Central off a series loss to one of the American Leagues worst teams.The trends point toward a good game for Garcia (10-9, 4.37 ERA). He is 34-21 in 78 career games at home with a 2.87 ERA. Whats more, Oakland (56-73) has lost 16 of the last 20 games when opponents start a left-hander and its 13-21 record against lefty starters is the worst in the AL.But the As were able to flip the script Saturday night in a 3-2 win despite picking up just four hits, spoiling the first major league start of Alex Reyes. They scored their runs on a bases-loaded walk, a fielders choice grounder on which the Cardinals eschewed a sure out in favor of a risky throw to the plate that was late, and a sacrifice fly.Oakland has walked just 327 times in 129 games, but drew five walks, four against Reyes, who lasted just 4 2/3 innings as the As ran his pitch count up to 89.The coaches told us their starting pitcher was pretty wild, left fielder Khris Davis said. So I was looking for the first good pitch tto put a good swing on it.ddddddddddddSt. Louis (68-60) didnt put many good swings together after starting the fourth inning with consecutive singles. Its final 17 hitters went down in order, with perhaps two hard-hit balls total in that span.The result was the Cardinals failed to expand their 1 1/2-game lead on Miami and Pittsburgh for the NLs second wild-card spot. Whats more, the New York Mets pulled within 2 1/2 games with a victory over Philadelphia.We know that we have a good team, St. Louis reliever Matt Bowman said, and that if we can keep winning, everything will take care of itself.St. Louis will again face a pitcher with which its unfamiliar in right-hander Andrew Triggs (0-1, 4.38 ERA). His last outing was Monday night against Cleveland, which he blanked for six innings on just three hits and a walk, fanning six.But Triggs settled for a no-decision when the offense couldnt solve Carlos Carrasco and Oakland eventually lost 1-0.Triggs, who has been promoted and outrighted a whopping eight times this year, is one of three former relievers who have been forced into a starting role due to a spate of injuries that have decimated the rotation.You dont expect that many injuries in your rotation, As manager Bob Melvin said, but guys have been getting opportunities and making the most of them. ' ' '