MONACO -- Former Boston Marathon winner Lidiya Grigoryeva has been banned for 2 1/2 years for doping.The IAAF said the 42-year-old Grigoryeva, who won the Boston Marathon in 2007 and the Chicago Marathon in 2008, was banned under the biological passport program, which tracks suspicious blood parameters over a long period.Grigoryeva was also a European bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters in 2006. She will not lose any major titles or medals.The IAAF also announced a ban of 2 1/2 years for another Russian, distance runner Alyona Kudashkina. Kudashkina is reportedly a former pupil of Viktor Chegin, a coach linked to more than 25 doping cases, mostly in race-walking.There is also a four-year ban for Russian middle-distance runner Larisa Kleimenova, who tested positive at last years Russian relay championships.NEW YORK -- Admittedly, this was not the womens final most of tennis was hoping for.No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber held up her part of the bargain, blowing into the championship match without the loss of a set. But No. 1 Serena Williams was upset Thursday night by Karolina Pliskova, the rising Czech Republic player with a scintillating serve.There wont be quite the buzz at Arthur Ashe Stadium without Serena, but consider this reading of the final: These could be the players, along with Garbine Muguruza, who pose the greatest threat to Serenas ability to win Grand Slams over the next several years.How to watch all the action SaturdayAt noon ET, the mens doubles final between No. 4 Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares and Pablo Carreno Busta/Guillermo Garcia-Lopez will begin on ESPN3. Click to watchAt 4 p.m. ET, the womens final between No. 1 Angelique Kerber and No. 10 Karolina Pliskova begins on ESPN2 & WatchESPN. Click to watchOur real-time scoreboard, updated stats and social handles can be found in one spot: US Open CourtCast.Saturdays womens final breakdownNo. 2 Angelique Kerber vs. No. 10 Karolina Pliskova, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and WatchESPNCase for Kerber: The 28-year-old German, playing the best tennis of her career, can finish the season as the only woman with two 2016 Grand Slam singles titles -- and she played for a third, losing the Wimbledon final to Williams. Thats essentially how she swiped Serenas No. 1 ranking. Kerber holds a 4-3 head-to-head edge over Pliskova, but theyve never met in a major. Dont underestimate the fact that Pliskova, until this fortnight, had never been past the third round of a Grand Slam. Pliskovva was able to exploit Williams nerves and her lack of mobility caused by a knee injury.dddddddddddd She shouldnt be able to do that to Kerber, who is one of the games best defenders. Kerber is seasoned, and, with that life-changing No. 1 ranking, she has to believe this is her title to win or lose.Case for Pliskova: The Czech Republic player has three things that can trump experience: some serious momentum, a huge serve and unswerving nerve. Hows that for a trifecta? Shes won 11 straight matches, including a straight-sets victory over Kerber in the Cincinnati final. The serve? She out-aced Serena in that surprising semifinal. Pliskova, 24, is already projected to be ranked No. 6 among WTA players, and that would rise to No. 5 with a win in the final. Shes shown a blatant disregard for the hierarchical order this year, beating six top-10 players already this year: Kerber, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Serena and?Venus Williams. And there is also the Rio effect: Kerber is the only one of four players who advanced to a gold-medal match to still be alive. Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro and Monica Puig all exited looking fatigued.Prediction: The oddsmakers, perhaps thinking of that 6-3, 6-1 Cincinnati result three weeks ago, have installed Pliskova as a slight favorite in this one. Yes, shes four rounds further than shes ever been at a Slam, but, if she suddenly was going to feel the pressure, it would have happened against Williams. It didnt. Pliskova in three. Wholeslae Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Cheap College Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap Baseball Jerseys ' ' '