Novak Djokovic stood stoically, as still as a stone -- was it another strong take on the mannequin challenge? -- and the smoke billowing at Londons O2 Arena began to engulf him.Before his opening match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals against Dominic Thiem?on Sunday,?Djokovic stood there and briefly closed his eyes, and you have to wonder whether, even for a moment, he wished he could make himself disappear.For four of the past five seasons, Djokovic has finished as the No. 1-ranked player. He could still make it five out of six with a victory in this eight-man event, something that, based strictly on history, wouldnt be terribly surprising; he has won each of the past four editions of this tournament.After losing the No. 1 last week to Andy Murray, the world No. 2 essentially needs to go one step further than Murray in London.With Djokovics uneven 6-7 (10), 6-0, 6-2 victory over the 23-year-old Thiem, it would be a little too easy to declare Djokovics glorious run of dominance over. But its not irresponsible to wonder whether his shelf life at the top has a rapidly advancing expiration date.The recent signs, including this manic match with Thiem, arent particularly good. Lets just say that for Djokovic, the end of the season cant come fast enough.The frustrations were still evident Sunday, even after a smooth final two sets. In his postmatch news conference, Djokovic had a heated exchange with reporters when the world No. 2 found himself on the defensive answering questions about his recent bouts of temper. Heres how it went down:Question: Back to the end of the first set, we saw you similarly venting your frustration at Roland Garros, throwing your racket. Does it concern you one day that will cost you dearly? If it hit someone ...Djokovic: You guys are unbelievable.Q: Why is it unbelievable?Djokovic: Because youre always picking these kind of things.Q. If you keep doing these things ...Djokovic: I keep doing these things? Why dont you get suspended then?Q. You were close, werent you?Djokovic: Im close? Im still not suspended, so if Im not close, Im not close.Q: If that ball had hit a spectator, it could have been serious.Djokovic: It could have been, yes. It could have snowed in O2 arena, as well, but it didnt.Q: Youre not concerned about your mindset?Djokovic: Im the only player that shows his frustration on the court? Thats what you are saying?Q: Youre one of the top-ranked players in the world.Djokovic: So?Just five months ago, Djokovic seemed invincible. He won the Australian Open, the rare Indian Wells-Miami double and then the French Open, completing his career Grand Slam. That was his 12th major singles title, and that noise you heard was the crunching of all-time numbers.How long before the 29-year-old Serb caught his long-time rivals, Roger Federer (17) and Rafael Nadal (14)? Since taking three Grand Slams in 2011, Djokovic had won an astounding 11 of 22 majors up to that point. That trajectory would vault him past Nadal -- and Pete Sampras, too -- by the end of 2017. Federer would be in his sights by 2018.And then Djokovic -- perhaps in retrospect it was inevitable -- came back to the field. He lost to Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon, Juan Martin del Potro in his first match at the Rio Olympics and Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final.After falling to Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters earlier this month, Djokovic unblinkingly tackled the elephant in the room: his disturbing and dramatic loss of confidence on the court.A lot of things, a lot of emotions went through my mind and body in the last two years, Djokovic said, with the things that I was blessed to achieve, obviously, and the career Grand Slam this year. But it took a lot out of me, and it has put some things in perspective and, obviously, raised some questions in which direction I want to go to.So Im in the process at the moment, and its going [to] obviously take some time really for me to redefine all these things.Against Thiem, it took a 69-minute first set to accomplish that reset.Djokovic was tentative in that frame and Thiem was consistently fiery. Then, after earning three set points in the tiebreaker, Thiem succumbed to nerves, pounding back-to-back double faults and a tight backhand into the net. Finally, on his seventh set point, he whipped a forehand winner.At one point, Djokovic lost his racket and his legendary balance, winding up on his behind, then offered a thin smile -- maybe it was actually an embarrassed grimace.Whatever it was, it returned him swiftly to full power.As Federer and Nadal have both learned, the 30th year of a professional tennis players life can be a difficult one. After winning his 16th major, at the 2010 Australian Open at the age of 28, Federer has won only one since. Nadal had just turned 28 when he won the 2014 French Open -- and he hasnt won one since. Sampras, too, won one major after turning 29.Djokovic celebrated his 29th birthday just before the French Open. He has struggled with physical and mental issues ever since winning that cherished, life-changing title.This season-ending tournament offers a revealing glimpse into his psyche.Look, in the end of the day, I have to get to that state of mind where Im able to perform as well as I want to match after match, Djokovic said at the Paris Masters. I was not able to find that level for last couple of months.But Im still here, and I feel like Im on the right path. Im in a better state of mind than I was some time ago. Thats all Im thinking about right now. Custom Cubs Jersey China . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Custom Andre Dawson Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-sammy-sosa-jersey-large-250n.html . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Cheap Custom Cubs Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Ron Santo Jersey Large . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. WASHINGTON -- The Philadelphia Phillies certainly got a good return on their investment when they traded veteran left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers in July, 2015.Philadelphia got in return pitchers Alec Asher, Jake Thompson and Jerad Eickhoff.Asher started for the Phillies on Thursday night and got the win against the Washington Nationals. Thompson will get the ball Friday as he faces Tanner Roark of Washington in the second game of the four-game set.Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said after Thursdays 4-1 win it is good to see all three pitchers from the Hamels trade get a shot with Philadelphia.He looked very confident, said Mackanin, of Asher. Asher really pitched well. He got away with a few line drives here and there. I didnt realize he had that good of a changeup. It was good to see the confidence he showed.Thompson is 1-5 with a 6.48 ERA in six starts this year -- the first of his major league career. In 33 1/3 innings he has allowed 33 hits and 18 walks with 22 strikeouts.He is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in one start against the Nationals, when he went seven innings and gave up seven hits and two runs.Roark, a 25th-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2008, is 14-8 with a 2.89 ERA this year and has been a thorn in the side of the Phillies.A former University of Illinois pitcher, Roark is 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA in four starts against Philadelphia. He has gone at least seven innings iin each start.ddddddddddddDespite that, several members of the Phillies have enjoyed success against Roark.Odubel Herrera is hitting .429 in 14 at-bats against him, while Cesar Hernandez has a mark of .364 in 11 trips to the plate.Freddy Galvis is hitting .300 in 10 at-bats against Roark while Maikel Franco -- who did not start Thursday -- is hitting .286 in 14 at-bats. Ryan Howard has a mark of .267 in 15 at-bats against Roark.Roark won 15 games in 2014 and he is line to be one of the top three starters for the Nationals if they make the playoffs.His role could take on more meaning as Stephen Strasburg left his start on Wednesday in the third inning after just 42 pitches with a flexor mass strain. His return is uncertain but he will not need a second Tommy John surgery.The Nationals are also without Joe Ross, who has been on the disabled list since July.Its important but we cant rush him because wed have two of them down, Baker said of Strasburg and Ross.A.J. Cole started Thursday for the Nationals and could see more action down the stretch.In the third inning I had two bad pitches but coming out of all of this its learning for me, he said. I need to shake off. Howard hit a good pitch but at the same time if Im going to throw that changeup I have to throw it in the ground. ' ' '