d then extend them and keep them here, team president Rod Wood said. Its a lot easier when you know the guy than signing him from free agency when you

Novak Djokovic has fired the most resounding shot in the volley of season-ending coaching changes Tuesday, announcing on Twitter that he has terminated his successful three-year relationship with Supercoach Boris Becker.The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled, Djokovic wrote. After thanking Becker, Djokovic added, On the other hand, my professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play and also to maintain a good schedule and new goals for the new season.The awkward phrasing of his latter remarks might raise some questions about how the two men felt Djokovic ought to react to the decline in his game in the past few months of the year. But in his own Twitter response, Becker was nothing but gracious. Thank U! the 49-year-old six-time German Grand Slam champion wrote, We had the time of our life.Djokovics decision is the first signal he has sent that he feels a need to make some changes on the heels of a period during which he lost some key matches, including the US Open final, and the world No. 1 ranking. This after a nearly unbeatable start to the 2016 season in which he won his first French Open title, completing his career Slam.The No. 2-ranked Djokovic named Becker his head coach in December 2013. Becker guided the Serb to six of his 12 Grand Slam titles and 14 of his 30 ATP Masters 1000 titles.Becker became the youngest Grand Slam singles champion when he rode his booming serve to the Wimbledon title in 1985 at the age of 17 years, 227 days (a record later eclipsed by Michael Chang). He won Wimbledon three times, the Australian Open twice and added a US Open title as well.A former No. 1, Becker was also one of the most colorful and popular players of all time, and an icon in his native land. But he suppressed that side of his personality during his three-year stint with Djokovic, developing a reputation as a fiercely loyal and self-effacing presence who sat stone-still in the player-guest box, often wearing a baseball cap and track suit, watching his protégé pick apart the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.Thus far, Djokovic has said nothing about the fate of the other coach who has been at his side for years, Marian Vajda.Pepe Imaz, a Svengali-like figure who subscribes to a peace and love philosophy, was an increasingly visible presence in Djokovics camp in recent months. Djokovic calls him an adviser.Djokovic can take some solace in knowing his 2017 season will begin in Australia, where he is a six-time champion (including the past two).While most of the major coaching changes have occurred in the WTA ranks, ATP No. 3 Milos Raonic also surprised some observers recently when he terminated his relationship with one of his coaches, former French Open champion Carlos Moya.These relationships come down to individual dynamics, Tennis Channel analyst Paul Annacone told ESPN.com. Annacone, who coached Federer for more than three years and Pete Sampras for more than five, added: Sometimes, they run their course and the relationship goes stale. Its just human nature.Its also human nature to want to make a change when things arent going exactly as hoped, and that was undoubtedly where Djokovic found himself at the end of the 2016 season. Cheap Nike Vapormax Sale . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Cheap Vapormax For Sale . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. http://www.cheapvapormaxuk.com/ . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Nike Vapormax Wholesale .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Cheap Nike Vapormax Uk .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Darius Slay took the field for Detroits first practice of training camp with his contract concerns in the past.Slay signed a four-year extension with the Lions worth about $50 million, a deal that lasts through the 2020 season. The 25-year-old cornerback was heading into the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, and now Detroit doesnt have to worry about losing him to free agency in 2017.I know the organization, they love me. I love them, Slay said. They gave me a great opportunity. I put a lot of good tape on film. I was very important to the team, and Im glad to still be here.The Lions announced Slays extension shortly before practice Friday. His contract had been one of the teams biggest unresolved issues during the offseason. Slay has become an important part of the Detroit secondary, and the Lions hope hell be valuable for years to come.Darius earned this extension, and we are happy to reward him accordingly, general manager Bob Quinn said in a statement. We also are pleased to have finalized this now so the team and Darius can focus on the start of training camp and preparation for the upcoming season.The other big bit of news from the Lions on Friday was injury-related. Linebacker DeAndre Levy was put on the active non-football injury list. Neither Levy nor coach Jim Caldwell elaborated on what the problem was.Slay has played in 45 games for the Lions, making 36 starts. He has 149 tackles (119 solo) in his career, with four interceptions and 35 pass defenses.He said he became pretty emotional after the deal was done.I tried to hold my tears in, but I couldnt too long, because of where I came from, he said.Two yearrs ago, the Lions were unable to work out an extension with Ndamukong Suh when he was entering the last season of his contract.dddddddddddd They ended up losing him to free agency.Detroit avoided that scenario with Slay, a player who has progressed well since the Lions drafted the Mississippi State standout in the second round in 2013.Thats the plan. You know, build our own through the draft and find good guys and then extend them and keep them here, team president Rod Wood said. Its a lot easier when you know the guy than signing him from free agency when youre hoping that you know him. So were really happy that it worked out this way.The Lions signed Levy to a contract extension around this time last year, then he missed almost the entire season because of hip problems. He stopped to talk to reporters after practice Friday, but the exchange became a bit amusing when he referred questions about his injury to Caldwell -- over and over again.At one point, he was asked how frustrating these injury problems have been.Its just a little stress -- that Caldwell probably could describe better than I could, he said.For his part, Caldwell gave no details about the injury but said Levy is still a big part of the teams plans.If it was something long-term that we deemed as being long-term, you certainly know I would let you know that, Caldwell said. We want to be a little bit prudent in terms of how we deal with it.Safety Don Carey was also put on the active NFI list.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '