Lob & Kritik » trying to find an edge.Hes an intimidating person

NEW YORK -- At 19, Jared Donaldson is the youngest American man in the U.S. Opens third round since 2007. A key part of his growth as a tennis player happened in another country, though.When he was 14, Donaldson left home to train in Argentina, so he could work on his game on clay, improve his footwork and get lessons on how to use spins on his shots.He learned more, too, during the 2 1/2 years he was there.The biggest takeaway from me in Argentina was how focused and dedicated those guys were training. They were so serious. I think it was really eye-opening for me. The fact that they work so hard, even when they were tired. Clay court is so physical, said Donaldson, who is ranked 122nd and got through qualifying to reach the main draw at Flushing Meadows. It put me in a pro mentality when I was very young.Heading into Saturdays third-round match on Court 17 against 21st-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, Donaldson already has enjoyed the best week of his nascent career. Not only did he collect the first two Grand Slam victories, but they came against a couple of established players, 12th-seeded David Goffin of Belgium in the first round and Viktor Troicki of Serbia in the second.And even if other U.S. teens have drawn more attention recently -- a pair of 18-year-olds, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe come to mind -- Donaldson has big things in mind.I want to be top 10, top 5, No. 1. Eventually, if I get to that ranking, Ill have enough attention, almost too much attention, he said. I just have to make sure that I stay focused on my game, try not to let the outside factors kind of dictate how I play or act. I just have to keep improving.To that end, he started working with former pro Taylor Dent as his coach, initially aiming to serve better. But Donaldson credits Dent -- and his father, Phil, also a former player -- with improving other aspects of his play, also.All the kind of things Im doing out there now is a reflection of (Taylors) influence on me, coaching with me, working with me, Donaldson said. I owe a lot to him.Karlovic will present a challenge when it comes to returning serves: The 6-foot-11 Croatian, who beat American Donald Young in the second round, set a U.S. Open record with 61 aces in his first-round match Tuesday.Here is what else to watch Saturday at the U.S. Open:WILLIAMS SISTERS: Once again, both Williams sisters will be in action on the same day -- and in the same arena, Arthur Ashe Stadium. No. 1 seed Serena Williams goes first, facing 47th-ranked Johanna Larsson of Sweden in the afternoon. No. 6 Venus Williams plays at night against No. 26 Laura Siegemund of Germany. While Serena is bidding for a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and Venus owns seven, neither Larsson nor Siegemund ever has been as far as the fourth round at any major.KYRGIOS IN SPOTLIGHT: In the final match under the lights in Ashe, 14th-seeded Nick Kyrgios gets his chance on center stage, facing 63rd-ranked Illya Marchenko of Ukraine. Kyrgios is among the most talented -- and moody -- men on the tennis tour, as likely to hit a `tweener as fantastic as Rafael Nadals from Friday as he is to throw a racket or appear to give up mid-match.MURRAY VS. LORENZI: As 2012 U.S. Open champion Andy Murray tries to become the fourth man in the Open era, which dates to 1968, to participate in all four Grand Slam finals in one season, he takes on Italys Paolo Lorenzi, who is ranked 40th and will be playing in a third-round match at a major for the first time.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich Lakers Jerseys Outlet . 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LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. In the bowels of the AAMI Park gymnasium, Melbournes Jack Viney attacks his weights with the same vigor he hunts down opponents on the field.The explosive midfielder -- who is pound for pound definitely the best lifter at the Demons, according to the clubs strength and conditioning manager Robert Jackson -- takes the same approach to every gym session as he does on game day.Its just the way he is.Viney has played a pivotal role in the Demons resurgence in Paul Roos final year as coach. In many ways, the 22-year-old personifies his clubs rise up the ladder this season.Taken at the bargain selection of pick No.26 in the 2012 national draft, Viney has this year transformed himself from hard trier to one of the premium midfielders in the competition. League-wide, hes ranked 13th in contested possessions per game, eighth in tackles, and 13th in clearances per match.He was at his ferocious best in Melbournes drought-breaking win against Hawthorn in Round 20, collecting 39 touches (16 contested) at 82 percent efficiency, eight tackles, seven clearances and five marks. Aside from his statistics, his physical intent set the tone as Melbourne beat Hawthorn for the first time since Round 8, 2006.A career-high 16 tackles against the Western Bulldogs in Round 8 was another highlight, along with the 23 contested possessions -- another career-high -- racked up in Round 5 against Richmond.In fact, if it were not for a brainfade in Round 10 that saw him cop a one-week suspension, Viney could be a Brownlow Medal chance as season 2016 draws to a close -- which highlights his incredible improvement.Aside from his natural footballing ability, Vineys work ethic at Melbourne is legendary.When hes down in the gym, hes there to beat anyone, Jackson tells ESPN. He competes with everyone and even himself. Hes very aggressive in the way he attacks his weights, attacks his training and is always looking at a way to get an improvement.The other thing he does which is quite unique is hes always researching what other people do and trying to mimic professional approaches. He does his research, he comes with questions and I couldnt ask for more to be honest.Those who know Viney often shake their head in admiration at the son of former club great Todds absolute commitment to improve.Whenever Viney fearlessly burrows into packs, often emerging with a hard-won Sherrin, or locks his arms around an opponent in a vice-like tackle, those behind the scenes nod knowingly.Melbourne veteran Lynden Dunn, for one, isnt surprised by his elevation into the top bracket of the AFLs best inside midfielders.Hes grown up loving the club - Todd, his old man captained the club, so he [Jack] has always being around the place and the players, the defender told ESPN. He is ultra-competitive, he allways means business, hes courageous, tough, hard.ddddddddddddHe can come across a little bit arrogant to some people but knowing him now, hes just very confident in his preparation and performances on game day.Ive got no doubt hell be All Australian and a multiple best and fairest winner by the end of his career. Its not luck - he takes ownership of his career and works so hard.Before being drafted, Viney spent time at Melbourne as a 17-year old in 2012, receiving permission to train with the club and play for its VFL affiliate Casey. Mark Neeld was the Demons coach that year, and in 2013 before being sacked midway through the season.Neeld, now game performance manager at Essendon, said he knew from an early stage that Viney would become a star midfielder.Hes a beauty. He comes from really strong family, and the things I saw with Jack as a young player - his work ethic and determination - are the things everyone is seeing on the footy field now, Neeld told ESPN.He was always in a hurry, Jack, but hes everything you want in a player in terms of determination, work ethic, leadership, the want to get better ... hes got it.Im not surprised hes become one of the premier midfielders in the competition.Jackson is also unsurprised at the midfielders rise. The strength and conditioning boss has regularly been wowed by Vineys intensity in the gym.Jacks very aggressive in his pursuit of becoming excellent, he said.If you look back to his early years before he was even playing TAC Cup, he was already going to see a sprint coach at the Hawthorn Football Club who is now the high performance manager at Richmond, Peter Burge. He was always trying to find an edge.Hes an intimidating person. Hes very strong, hes very powerful, hes very aggressive on the field ... and down in the gym he demands that of other people - he demands people put in effort and if someones lifting and he thinks they could possibly put more on or they could have done another rep, then hell have no shame in voicing that.In terms of leadership in the gym, I think just through his own actions and the way he approaches gym sessions, [he] is a real benchmark for others.Dunn said it wasnt just in the gym that Vineys leadership qualities were evident, with the defender confident the emerging tyro would eventually take the captaincy from Nathan Jones.Theres plenty of good young leaders coming through [at Melbourne] but Jack would definitely be a candidate for the captaincy, Dunn said.Nathan Jones is doing a super job at the moment and has plenty of good footy left in him but when the time comes to hand it over, Im sure Jack will be one of the strongest candidates. ' ' '