NEW YORK -- On the eve of this tournament, most people thought we would be getting the eighth installment of the Grand Slam final rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.But Kei Nishikori had other ideas, beating Murray in a five-set quarterfinal before the Japanese No. 6 tired down the stretch in the semis against Stan Wawrinka.Djokovic has done his part, albeit with a lot of help from his ailing opponents, and is 19-4 against Wawrinka. But dont expect this match to be as lopsided. The Swiss has stunned Djokovic twice at majors, including last years French Open final, and you can expect a heated competition in what will be another muggy day Sunday at the US Open. Heres what you need to know heading into the final Grand Slam match of the season.?At noon ET, the womens doubles final between?No. 1 Caroline Garcia/ Kristina Mladenovic vs. No. 12 Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova?will begin on ESPN3. Click to watchAt 4 p.m. ET, the mens final between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Stan Wawrinka?begins on ESPN & WatchESPN. Click to watchOur real-time scoreboard, updated stats and social handles can be found in one spot: US Open CourtCast.Sundays mens final breakdownNo. 1 Novak Djokovic?vs. No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and WatchESPNThe case for Djokovic?The 12-time Grand Slam champion arrived at Flushing Meadows with question marks over his form, fitness and mental state. But Djokovic has had to complete only 13 sets on his way to the final and has played just 118 games. Wawrinka on the other hand? He has played 23 sets and 237 games. Djokovic should have plenty of reserves. Theres also the small matter of him being the best player in the world -- the one who is well-positioned at 29 years of age to surpass Roger Federers record of 17 majors.The case for Wawrinka?The 31-year-old from Switzerland is the ultimate big-match player -- he has won both of his two Grand Slam finals, taking out the No. 1 player in the world at that time on each occasion. He advanced past Rafael Nadal at the 2014 Australian Open (beating Djokovic in the quarterfinals). Then came Wawrinkas astonishing, four-set win against the Serbian at Roland Garros last year. Wawrinka has plenty of reason to be optimistic he can pull off another upset, not the least of which is Djokovics physical state. Although Djokovic is fresher, he has needed treatment for wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries at this US Open. Wawrinka showed impressive mental and physical strength to come back from match point down against Britains Kyle Edmund before beating resurgent fan favorite Juan Martin del Potro. Wawrinka then outlasted Nishikori in brutally humid conditions in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.Prediction: Djokovic has been the favorite with the bookmakers to lift the title here from Day 1. It seems crazy to ever doubt the world No. 1 at any tournament, but Wawrinka has big-match DNA. Wawrinka in five spectacular sets. Wholesale Custom Astros Shirts . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Cheap Custom Astros Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/ . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Jeff Bagwell Jersey Large . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Custom Astros Jerseys . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina lawmakers took steps Thursday to set aside a half-million dollars for the legal defense of a law limiting protections for LGBT people as a judge sought to streamline a cluster of lawsuits it has inspired.Republican lawmakers were mapping out the end of the session, including possible changes to the law known as House Bill 2, which has attracted high-profile critics including the NBA. The session could end this weekend.But there was no appetite to change the provision requiring transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate in schools, universities and many other public buildings. The law also excludes sexual orientation and gender identity from statewide anti-discrimination protections.Pressure to change the law has come from several quarters including NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who said earlier this month that there needed to be progress on changing the law this summer to ensure the league keeps its 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.The league issued a joint statement late Thursday with the Charlotte Hornets saying they were doubtful that proposed changes would go far enough.We have been engaged in dialogue with numerous groups at the city and state levels, but we do not endorse the version of the bill that we understand is currently before the legislature, the statement said.Legislative leaders were weighing possible adjustments, while trying to determine whether theres enough support to get the legislation to Gov. Pat McCrorys desk. McCrory has urged lawmakers to repeal a provision preventing workers from using state law to sue over workplace discrimination.The governor has been public in what he has asked us to look at, House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said Thursday. We are reviewing those matters and its just still in discussion.Moore confirmed other changes are being considered but he declined to elaborate.The Senate also approved a plan to give McCrorys office $500,000 to defend the law in court, by transferring money from a disaster relief fund. The measure still must pass the House.Entertainers including Bruce Springsteen canceled concerts to protest the law, while scores of business leaders signed a letter seeking its repeal. Rallies to support the law, meanwhile, drew thoussands of conservatives to Raleigh.ddddddddddddOther legislators have said possible changes include increasing criminal penalties for people who commit sexual assaults in bathrooms and locker rooms. There also could be dispensations for transgender people who have undergone sex reassignment surgery but were born in the few states where the sex on a birth certificate cant be changed.Gay rights advocates held a news conference to say nothing short of the laws repeal would suffice.There is only one fix for H.B. 2, and its full and total repeal, said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. If they choose not to and Gov. McCrory and his political cronies run out the clock on this short session, they wont be able to outrun the voters of this state in November.McCrory discussed the law privately with Democratic legislators at the Executive Mansion.Sen. Floyd McKissick, D-Durham, described the discussion as candid. But he said Democrats remained concerned that proposed changes dont fix fundamental problems with the law.A spokesman for McCrorys re-election campaign, Ricky Diaz, later said in an email: Any Democrat standing with the Human Rights Campaign and other out-of-state liberal interest groups by refusing any compromise is attempting to drive the NBA All-Star Game from North Carolina.Transgender residents and the U.S. Department of Justice have challenged the law in court, while McCrory, legislative leaders and a citizen group filed lawsuits to defend it. Legislative leaders will have their own legal expenses after filing a lawsuit separate from the governors.Federal Judge Louise Wood Flanagan, who was overseeing lawsuits by the legislative leaders and citizens group, on Wednesday ordered that they be sent to another federal court hearing separate challenges to the law. Her move increased the likelihood that at least four of the five cases will end up before one judge. It also denied efforts to consolidate the two cases with the lawsuit filed by McCrory before a different judge.The risk of inconsistent adjudication is high and the relative expense of multiple proceedings, as compared to a single proceeding, is plain, Flanagan wrote. ' ' '