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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Serena Williams says she asked for a wildcard into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to combat boredom once she believed her back injury was on the mend. "My back finally started to feel better but it wasnt better in time for me to play Doha at the level Id like to play," said Williams, in a pre-match media interview on Monday. "So then it became more about what can I play next and this was next on the calendar. "It gets boring to have to practice every day. I was like, I dont want to practice anymore. I want to play a match." The American has been sidelined with an aching back since losing a three-set, fourth-round match to Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open last month. The top-seeded Williams isnt just playing singles this week in Dubai. She and sister Venus, who also was given a singles wildcard into the main draw, were granted a wildcard into the doubles as well. "I think its actually going to be good for me to do (play singles and doubles) because it will give me some more match play," Williams said. "I need to get used to the conditions and moving so its definitely helpful." Williams, who received a first round bye, will play the winner of the all-Russian encounter between Alisa Kleybanova and Elena Makarova in the second round. In the doubles, the Williams sisters will face the second-seeded Russian pairing of Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the first round. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season. Wholesale NHL Jerseys .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. http://www.jerseysnhlfromchina.us/.C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Cheap NHL Jerseys . He was attracted by the punishing defence, the strong running game and a coaching staff he trusted. The 49ers announced Thursday that Manningham had signed a two-year deal to join the team he helped knock out in the NFC championship game two months ago in their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver. Cheap Jerseys .Y. - Referee Ed Hochuli referred to replay official Tom Sifferman by his nickname Jungle Boy, which was heard on the in-stadium microphone during the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC wild-card game Saturday.ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Monaco managed to hold Zenit St. Petersburg to a 0-0 draw in Group C of the Champions League on Wednesday after both sides failed to take their chances.Zenit, which is unbeaten in all competitions this season, and Monaco have four points from two matches. Bayer Leverkusen was hosting Benfica later.Having sealed a 1-0 victory against Leverkusen against the run of the play in its opener, Monaco dominated this time around but was denied by a string of good saves by Zenit keeper Yuri Lodygin.Zenit recovered from its poor start after the break but Monacos defence was able to cope with the pressure.Monaco stuck to its usual game plan of holding possession as the visitors got off to a bright start.With Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jeremy Toulalan marshalling the midfield, Monaco immediately showed its attacking intentions when Dimitar Berbatov was picked out by Argentinian striker Lucas Ocampos in the third minute, only for the Bulgarian forward to see his left-footed shot saved.Nabil Dirar went close in the next minute with a long-range effort as Andre Villas-Boas team was almost caught cold.Zenit players struggled to string passes together but remained dangerous on the break, with Portugal playmaker Dannys shot ending wide following a good move in thhe 10th minute.ddddddddddddOcampos missed the chance to put the visitors ahead just before halftime when he controlled the ball before unleashing a powerful half-volley from the edge of the box that Lodygin tipped over the bar.Zenit returned for the restart with the same determination that has helped them go 15 games unbeaten this season, with Monaco being lucky to see Jose Rondon miss a glaring chance from close range in the 50th minute.The Venezuelan striker found himself in an excellent position after Hulks cut-back, but his weak shot posed no threat to Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic.The hosts continued to push forward and Rondon, who has scored seven league goals this season, had another chance six minutes later. Aleksandr Anyukov picked him out with a fine cross from the right, but Andrea Raggis fine defending prevented him from hitting the target.Zenit gradually took control of the game but could not find the net, with defender Nicolas Lombaerts sending his header from Hulks pass straight at Subasic in the 65th.Monaco substitute Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, who replace