MELBOURNE, Australia - Victoria Azarenka is in an unfamiliar position as the Australian Open gets underway: unseeded after a long injury layoff and no longer a heavy favourite to capture a title shes already won two times.While much as changed for the Belarussian, one thing has remained the same — her opponent on the other side of the net Tuesday. For the third consecutive year, Azarenka knocked American Sloane Stephens out of the Australian Open.Their matches at Melbourne Park have all been one-sided — Azarenka has won all three in straight sets — but they havent lacked drama.Two years ago, the two women faced off in the semifinals when Azarenka was the defending champion and Stephens a fresh-faced 19-year-old who had just upset No. 1-ranked Serena Williams in the quarters.Azarenka was comfortably ahead for much of the match, but the momentum began to shift in the second set. Azarenka, appearing flustered, called for an extended injury time-out that was considered by many to be strategic. Azarenka went on to win the match and her second title at Melbourne Park.Last year, the tension between the players was evident when Stephens icily described their relationship as nonexistent before they met in the fourth round. Despite her pre-match confidence, though, the result was the same: another Azarenka victory.When the Australian Open draw came out this year, Stephens said she had a funny feeling.I knew I was going to play her. Of course, Im not seeded, shes not seeded and were going to play each other, she said, before joking, The draws rigged, I swear. I need to go talk to (tournament director) Craig Tiley because this is ridiculous.Both Azarenka and Stephens came into 2015 on the mend — and hoping for a good result in Australia to build on.Azarenka played in just nine tournaments last year due to a left foot injury, causing her ranking to slip to No. 44 and for her to be unseeded at a major for the first time since the 2007 U.S. Open.She said she still needs more matches to feel comfortable on court again, though she looked sharp in her 6-3, 6-2 win over Stephens as she guided backhand winners down the line and volleyed with crisp precision.She even sounded like the Vika of old, pumping herself up with emphatic Come ons! and punctuating her shots with high-pitched hoots.Can she hoist the trophy again this year?The dreams are always big, and I think thats kind of the light in the end of the tunnel, Azarenka said. I dont know if its going to happen here or whenever, I just want to work and have that mentality that thats what I want to achieve.Stephens game, on the other hand, remains a work in progress. She is coming back from a wrist injury and is now on her third coach in the past year, Nick Saviano, who previously coached her when she was a rising junior.She believes shes due for a turnaround soon, particularly against Azarenka.Im going to do my best and hopefully, she said before stopping herself, No not hopefully. I will beat her one day. Jeff Green Jersey .com) - The Oakland Athletics needed to rely on a lot of young pitchers to win an American League West title this season. Washington Wizards Jerseys . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. 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Whitney, 42, played 1,330 career regular season games since breaking into the league with the San Jose Sharks during the 1991-92 season, tallying 385 goals and 1,064 points. For the past 23 years, I have had the privilege of earning my living playing hockey in the National Hockey League, Whitney said in a statement released by his agency, CAA Sports. Along the way, I have made countless memories and friendships, which I will always cherish. Every city I played in, the fans welcomed my family and me with open arms, and I couldnt be more tthankful for that.dddddddddddd Whitney played with the Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars. He played in 108 career playoff games, including 24 during the 2005-06 season when he helped lead the Hurricanes to their first-ever Stanley Cup. Terrific career, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com. 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