Chat » up 3-1, but Hudler pulled the host Flames wi

PARIS -- Novak Djokovic worked his way back into the French Open final, taking care of Ernests Gulbis and his big serve 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Friday on the first sunny day of this years tournament. The second-seeded Serb was able to control the pace of the match on Court Philippe Chatrier while letting Gulbis unforced errors mount. The powerful Latvian, who was playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal, finished with 44 errors. Djokovic is a six-time major champion who needs to win the title at the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. He also reached the final at Roland Garros in 2012, but lost to eight-time champion Rafael Nadal. Djokovic will next face either Nadal or Andy Murray in Sundays final. They were up next on Chatrier. Djokovic was first to get into trouble in the first semifinal, but he managed to save two break points and hold to 2-2 in the opening set. A few minutes later, he was ahead for good. Djokovic needed three attempts to earn his first break of the match, and he finally got it when Gulbis sent one of his many forehands long. It was also in that game that Gulbis had his first of five double-faults. His second double came in the final game of the set, when Djokovic broke again. And his third came when trailing Djokovic 4-3 in the second, when the Serb broke yet again. "Im not used to (playing) these kind of big matches," Gulbis said. "Its just normal I felt extra nervous and extra tense." Gulbis fared better in the third set. He again had two break points while leading 3-2, but again failed to win the game. However, he didnt waste his chance two games later, breaking Djokovic to take a 5-3 lead before serving out the set with his 11th ace. The two traded breaks early in the fourth set, and Djokovic broke again to lead 5-3 when Gulbis, again double-faulting once in the game, sent a backhand long. Djokovic won the last game at love. "It was a struggle out there," Gulbis said. "I felt maybe throughout the match I hit five really clean shots, from either side, backhand or forehand. Even serve." After nearly two weeks of overcast skies and cool temperatures, the sun was shining on centre court and Djokovic and Gulbis were more interested in staying cool than staying warm. Both players used ice wrapped in towels around their necks, like players often do at the sweltering Australian Open, as the temperature reached 28 degrees C (82 degrees F) on Friday. Djokovic is now 5-1 against Gulbis, a 25-year-old player who as a teen showed the potential for becoming a star. But Gulbis has said recently that he is only now playing his best tennis, and only because he has decided to leave the party lifestyle behind and focus on his sport. He certainly showed that at Roland Garros. Gulbis had reached the quarterfinals at a major only once before, and that was way back in 2008 at the French Open. In that match, he also lost to Djokovic, but in straight sets. This year, he eliminated 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the fourth round and sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. "The more I play these kind of matches, the more Im going to get used to these situations," Gulbis said. "For me, I take only the positive stuff out of it. Yeah, I need to be in these situations once, twice, three times, and then I can maybe make that extra step." Djokovic, however, is playing even better. He has won three titles so far this season, and has beaten Nadal the last four times they have played, including on clay in the final in Rome last month. Bobby Hull Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Wild getting Matt Moulson from Buffalo. The Wild Get: LW Matt Moulson and LW Cody McCormick. Keith Tkachuk Jersey . 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In Englands first game since its worst-ever World Cup showing, Roy Hodgsons side rarely looked like scoring against unambitious opposition and the breakthrough in the friendly only came when Raheem Sterling was tripped in the penalty area.CALGARY - Radim Vrbata continued whats been a seamless fit with Vancouver Canucks linemates Henrik and Daniel Sedin into the regular season.The Czech forward scored the eventual winner for the Canucks in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday in the NHL season-opener for both clubs.The Canucks signed the 33-year-old Vrbata in the off-season with the idea the right-winger would be a finisher for the playmaking Sedins. That theory held in the pre-season when Vrbata scored three times and the Sedins combining for five assists on the three.Vrbata batted a pass from Daniel out of the air past Calgary goaltender Jonas Hiller in the second period Wednesday. It was initially waived off as a high stick, but he was given the goal after review. Im glad that a goal helped us to get two points, Vrbata said. I knew that I had a blade high over the bar, probably, but I knew I hit it with the shaft.I know that they said it was close but I was pretty sure it was a good goal.Alex Burrows and Zack Kassian also scored and captain Henrik Sedin added a hard-working empty-netter for the Canucks, who extended their winning streak against Calgary to eight in a row. Henrik was on his behind when he swept the puck into the Flames net. Paul Byron and Jiri Hudler replied for the Flames, who havent won their first game of the season since 2009.The season-opener for both Calgary and Vancouver at Scotiabank Saddledome featured two teams attempting to climb out of the bottom of the league standings. The Canucks finished 25th and the Flames 27th among the 30 teams last season.Their starting goaltenders signed as free agents on July 1 and made their debuts for their respective teams. Ryan Miller stopped 23 of 25 shots for the win, while Jonas Hiller turned away 29 of 32 in his first game in a Flames jersey.I was a little anxious leading up to these games, Miller said. You start somewhere new and want to get off on the right foot.Willie Desjardins won his first regular-season game as Vancouvers head coach. He replaced John Toortorella who was sacked after just one season with the Canucks.ddddddddddddI was really happy we got everyone involved tonight, Desjardins said. We got a lot out of a lot of guys.The Flames out-hit the Canucks 32-16 and had the advantage in the face-off circle with 61 per cent won.But Calgary was scoreless on four power-play chances. The Flames had a minute and three seconds of 5-on-3 early in the first period, but couldnt capitalize on the two-man advantage.You dont score on those, you just make your life miserable and especially on a home opener with the fans already on their feet and theyre just waiting to light the barn on fire but we couldnt, Flames head coach Bob Hartley said.Not only did we not score, but after this, I felt we lost the momentum for basically the first 40 minutes. We were not very good in our zone, way too many missed assignments.Vrbatas goal put the hosts up 3-1, but Hudler pulled the host Flames within a goal at 13:19 of the second period when he blasted a drop pass from linemate Sean Monahan past Miller.The Canucks pounced on a Mikael Backlund giveaway along the offensive boards at 5:15 when Kassian finished a passing play from Brad Richardson and Lyndon Vey.Byron temporarily pulled the Flames even on a two-on-one with Johnny Gaudreau at 4:08. Byron opted to keep the puck and freeze Miller, who was beaten under his left pad.Burrows re-directed a Dan Hamhuis shot from the blue-line for a power-play goal at 11:52.The Flames embark on a six-game road trip starting Thursday in Edmonton. The Canucks are at home Saturday to the Oilers.Notes: Flames goaltender Karri Ramo will start in net in Edmonton . . . Brandon Bollig, Mason Raymond and defencemen Raphael Diaz and Deryk Engellend made their Flames debuts, but Devin Setoguchi was a scratch . . . Nick Bonino, Derek Dorsett, Linden Vey, and defenceman Luca Sbisa played their first games for the Canucks . . . Calgary rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau registered a shot on net in his 13 minutes 22 seconds of ice time. ' ' '