The air went out of the WTA balloon shortly after the US Open, when Serena Williams announced that she would play no more tour events until the WTA Finals in Singapore. The decision all but conceded the prized year-end No. 1 ranking to the woman who deposed Williams at the top, No. 1 ranked Angelique Kerber.Now the balloon is inflated again, and dancing in the breeze, thanks to Kerbers failure to clamp down on her rivals in the weeks since the US Open.Had Kerber improved upon her solid but unspectacular results of last year this fall, she would be in position to clinch the top spot for 2016 before the start of Singapore. It was a reasonable assignment for a newly empowered player who took a quantum leap in 2016, winning two Grand Slam events. But Kerber faltered. Shes now involved in a two-person race with a rival whos still relaxing back home.Kerber will lose ground (95 points) when the rankings are issued Monday, because she was beaten one round sooner this year than last in Beijing. She will have 8,390 points, a lead of 1,340 points. The undefeated winner of the WTA finals earns 1500 points, so Williams clearly will have a shot to displace Kerber because she has no points to defend, while Kerber can add points but also has some coming off as the weeks end.As of now, Kerber could lose the coveted top ranking on the last day of the WTA season. In fact, right now she could only lose it on the final day of play in Singapore, as Williams would need to make at least the final to regain No. 1.Stranger things have happened. Remember, this is Serena Williams we are talking about.In fairness, Kerber hasnt found much favor with the draw gods this fall. She took a bruising, three-set third-round loss against Petra Kvitova in Wuhan just as the Czech was roaring back from her recent slump. In Beijing, Kerber was knocked out in the third round as well, this time by emerging giant killer No. 19 Elina Svitolina. The erratic but dangerous 22-year-old Ukrainian also bounced Williams from the Olympic Games a couple of months ago.Williams certainly has faced challenges comparable to this one. You can be sure Kerber is already hearing footsteps, and thats not going to make her life any easier at the final tournament on her schedule next week in Hong Kong. She was a finalist there last year, so shell have to win the event outright in order to add insurance points to her ranking.Kerber can add 100 points if she wins Hong Kong, which will also feature Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Stosur and Alize Cornet. Anything less than a final for Kerber and she loses points with Williams gaining some precious breathing room.The current ranking system can actually give players a delayed reward for poor performances. Kerber has never made it out of the round-robin portion of the WTA Finals in three trips (shes won just two single matches). Last year, she won one match and will be defending just 370 points.No matter how you cut it, Williams has very little wiggle room -- but there is room after the latest turn of events in Beijing.Williams decision to return for the WTA Finals always seemed more like a tour-related obligation rather than a legacy-building opportunity. Had Kerber clinched the top ranking, Williams might have gone into the finals relaxed and happy to hit a few balls and pick up a kings ransom in prize money. After all, she left the tour in order to get healthy for 2017, not to train like mad to make a final push at Singapore. Its also clear that Williams has been enjoying life, as her Twitter feed and videos -- like the most recent one of her salsa dancing -- confirm.But if she goes into the WTA Finals with a chance to win back the No. 1 ranking, the vibe in Singapore changes. The tournament will matter. Whether Williams likes it or not, Singapore becomes the third potential showdown on a big stage with Kerber. Then the question becomes, how prepared is Williams?Thats where the difference in their WTA Finals records might come into play. Williams is 29-6 (five titles), while is just Kerber, 2-7. But given Kerbers lead in rankings points, even that might not be enough. Cheap Air Max 90 Australia Sale .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. Air Max 90 Australia Online . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.wholesaleairmax90australia.com/ . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Air Max 90 Australia Cheap . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Cheap Air Max 90 Australia . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2).Free agent Aaron Hughes is expected to win his 100th cap when Northern Ireland play Slovakia in Saturdays friendly in Trnava. The 36-year old, who made his debut against Slovakia in 1998, will become only the 12th Home Nations centurion on a list that includes Sir Bobby Charlton, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and his fellow countryman Pat Jennings.He will also become the first outfield Northern Ireland player to reach the milestone. Northern Ireland train in Austria on the eve of their final warm-up game against Slovakia Michael ONeill was not giving much away on whether Hughes would play but it was ONeill who helped convince the defender to backtrack on his decision to retire from innternational football in 2011.ddddddddddddHe wanted to be part of a squad that could do something, ONeill told Sky Sports News HQ.You want people you can rely on and Aaron is certainly that. Hes had a fantastic career and its fitting he will have the chance to go to a major tournament.Steven Davis was named as Hughes successor as captain when ONeill took over.Everyone can learn from him, said the Southampton midfielder. Hes the ultimate professional. I dont remember Hughesy ever having a bad game.Jonny Evans shared a room with Hughes on international trips when he first made his breakthrough for NI.He is fantastic player and person, said Evans. Hes very proactive with his defending and the way he holds the line. Hughes holds off Pall Klettskard off the Faroe Islands during a Euro 2016 qualifier I hope from a personal point of view that he can go on to reach 100 because its a massive milestone.The only Northern Ireland player to pass 100 caps is goalkeeper Jennings who made 119 appearances, and the Northern Irish legend said: It will be an absolutely fantastic achievement. Nobody deserves it more than Aaron.Northern Ireland are currently on the longest unbeaten run (11) of any Euro 2016 nation and play Slovakia on Saturday in their final warm-up friendly. Also See: Euro 2016 Slovakia v N Ireland preview ONeill pays Hughes tribute Washington looking for omens ' ' '