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NEW YORK -- Stan Wawrinka was about 2 1/2 hours removed from winning the U.S. Open for his third major championship when he was presented with a question he probably was figuring would be coming.The gist: After adding this trophy to those from the Australian Open in 2014, and the French Open in 2015, is it time to focus on completing a career Grand Slam by winning Wimbledon in 2017?Wawrinka ran his left hand through his hair, rubbed his eyes and smiled.So what? Are you saying next year I focus only on Wimbledon? There is no plan. The only plan is trying to push myself the maximum to be the best player I can, Wawrinka said Sunday night. Im not good enough to start and say, `OK, Im going to win a Grand Slam this year. No.Well, actually, Stan, you sure seem to be at this point. And that 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 victory over No. 1-ranked and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final on Sunday night was only the latest evidence.Wawrinka might have won a French Open junior title as a teenager, but it sure took him a while to show that sort of talent at the elite level. So long in the shadow of his Swiss countryman and close friend Roger Federer, Wawrinka did not reach a Grand Slam semifinal until age 28, in his 35th appearance at one of his sports four most prestigious events.Now, though, Wawrinka has won three majors over the past three seasons, pulling even with Andy Murray. Since the 2005 French Open, Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have won 39 of 47 Grand Slam trophies. Only Wawrinka and Murray also have multiple titles in that span.So its clear that the third-ranked Wawrinka now must be seen among the cream of the crop in mens tennis and a threat at all big tournaments moving forward. He is, after all, 3-0 in major finals, and has won 11 consecutive finals overall.He hits a very heavy ball, especially from the backhand corner. Forehand is very flat. You know, he goes for his shots from the forehand side. Backhand, you know, great chip, great slice. He uses that when hes defending and then he comes up and can get you off the court with a backhand crosscourt. Thats probably one of the best shots in the game, Djokovic said. Physically, hes very strong, so he can endure a lot.Wawrinka has never made it past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and lost in the second round there this year to the resurgent Juan Martin del Potro.So what about Wimbledon? What might he be able to do there? He added 1996 champion Richard Krajicek as a coaching consultant on grass this season to help with volleying, so he is definitely interested in improving at the All England Club.Im trying. Im trying every year to improve. Im trying every year to find solutions, Wawrinka said. I didnt play my best tennis yet there. Hopefully it will come.Here is what else we learned during the 2016 U.S. Open:KERBER IS NO. 1: It becomes official on Monday when the new WTA rankings are released, but Angelique Kerber clinched her debut at No. 1 after the U.S. Open semifinals, then showed its definitely justified by winning her second Grand Slam title of the season. The 28-year-old German had never been so much as a finalist at a major until this season, but made three such runs, winning the Australian Open and finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon, before dropping only one set at Flushing Meadows. Once known mainly as a counter-puncher, Kerber has become more aggressive during points, became more dedicated to raising her fitness, and worked with a mental coach to rise to the top. At 28, she is the oldest woman to reach No. 1, but her skills and stamina could keep her in the mix for a while.SERENA WILLIAMS: There was a lot of speculation about whether there is a changing of the guard in womens tennis, now that Serena Williams record-tying 186-week streak at No. 1 is over after a semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova. Williams turns 35 this month, so some are ready to write her off. Not so fast. Dont forget that she has fared no worse than the semifinals at each of the past nine majors, including a Wimbledon title and two runner-up finishes this year.FEDERER AND NADAL: After ruling tennis for so long, Federer and Nadal didnt win a major title in 2015 or 2016, and neither was a factor at Flushing Meadows (Nadal lost in the fourth round; Federer missed the tournament while he rehabs his surgically repaired left knee). Federer is 35; Nadal is 30 and injured more often than not lately.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichKevin Greene Steelers Jersey . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. L.C. Greenwood Womens Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Dermontti-Dawson-Elite-Jersey/ . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. JuJu Smith-Schuster Steelers Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Jerome Bettis Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit.The NCAA announced Monday that it would remove seven championship events from North Carolina because of HB2, the controversial law that requires people to use the public restroom that matches the sex indicated on a persons birth certificate.Fairness is about more than the opportunity to participate in college sports, or even compete for championships, NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. We believe in providing a safe and respectful environment at our events and are committed to providing the best experience possible for college athletes, fans and everyone taking part in our championships.Its great that the NCAA is making a statement about how much it values inclusion not just in sport, but in society. But the question is: what does this mean for NCAA member institutions that openly discriminate against LGBTQ students on their campuses?Its absolutely fair for the NCAA to single out North Carolina; the states law is blatantly discriminatory, and the statements made by Gov. Pat McCrory after its passage (and by the North Carolina GOP following the NCAAs announcement) underscore that fact. The law is a direct attack on gay people and trans people specifically, those most vulnerable to violence and vitriol within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.But the NCAA perpetuates LGBTQ discrimination in other areas of its governance. For example, a number of the NCAA member schools have applied for and been granted Title IX exemptions -- typically religious exemptions related to the usage of campus facilities, according to the?Human Rights Campaign. In other words, religious schools are requesting (and being allowed) the right to restrict access to bathrooms, housing and sports based on gender identity. If that sounds a lot like whats happening in North Carolina, thats because it is.To be fair, the NCAA does a lot through its Office of Inclusion to address LGGBTQ equality.dddddddddddd It has a policy protecting the abilities of trans people to play at the college level, and it provides materials about how to run LGBTQ-inclusive sports programs. It has hosted webinars on intra-team dating and summits on LGBTQ identity and faith, and every year the Office of Inclusion hosts its own conference. Its not like they do nothing.Whats frustrating is that the NCAA seems to want to have its cake and eat it too. The organization will move events, inform and educate, but when it comes to holding membership institutions accountable for their own discrimination, it falls short.When asked for comment, the NCAA referred to its original statement, in which board of governors vice chairman Jay Lemons said, Our membership comprises many different types of schools -- public, private, secular, faith-based -- and we believe this action appropriately reflects the collective will of that diverse group.In July, the NBA decided to move its All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of North Carolinas law, and earlier this year, the NFL drew criticism for not moving the 2017 Super Bowl from Houston after local voters repealed an LGBTQ-inclusive human rights ordinance. Frankly, the logistics of where leagues are playing or not playing their games are getting tiring.The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA could affect sustainable, tangible change all the way down to youth playing sports if they committed to doing so. The major sports leagues have a long way to go before theyre able to earn anything more than a golf clap of acknowledgement.Nevertheless, this step is unprecedented for the NCAA in its recognition of LGBTQ rights. It should be applauded for it. This thinking also should filter down to college and university campuses.Only time will tell. ' ' '