said: Hes definitely trying to protect his serve a bit better this year agai

Lewis Hamilton felt his Mercedes drove like a four-poster bed after sustaining front-wing damage at the first corner of the Chinese GP - with the world champion eventually battling back to seventh. The Briton started from the back of the grid after power unit issues on Saturday but got a good getaway, only to collide with Felipe Nasr as the Sauber tried to avoid both Ferraris, who made contact.Hamilton had to come in for one of five pitstops for a new front wing after the melee, with part of his old wing stuck under the W07s floor for the remainder of the grand prix. Lacking power, he was eventually passed by both Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages, while Felipe Massa produced a defensive masterlcass to keep Hamilton in P7. Chinese GP report Nico Rosberg wins, Lewis Hamilton down in seventh Despite another afternoon of damage limitation, the world champion now finds himself 36 points behind Nico Rosberg in the standings after his Mercedes team-mate eased to a third straight victory in 2016.It was definitely a difficult one, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. I got a good start, which is always difficult from the back. I tried to avoid what was ahead of me but got tangled in it.After that I battled through, but I just felt like every time I stopped I had to come through again, I wasnt gaining ground and at the end there wasnt enough tyres. Thats racing but its not a great finish. Hopefully onwards and upwards. Lewis Hamilton sustained front-wing damage at the first corner of the Chinese GP I have no hindsight at the moment. This track is quite good because you can overtake and get close but the car was pretty damaged. Im sure some aero parts were damaged but I think the suspension was too. The car was flexing like crazy today, like a four-poster bed.Toto Wolff could only reflect on a bittersweet afternoon, as Rosberg extended his total winning streak to six races. The Mercedes team boss confirmed that the front wing was damaging the bargeboard and floor of Hamiltons car, severely affecting the aerodynamics. Lewis Hamilton at one point looked like securing a fourth-place finish at the Chinese GP Hamilton had at one stage looked on for a fourth-placed finish in Shanghai, but came unstuck in the battle with Ricciardo and Massa on laps 43 and 44.While trying to pass the Williams he failed to defend himself, with Ricciardo eventually overtaking both drivers.That is quite possibly the worst lap I have seen Lewis Hamilton drive in a Formula 1 car, said Sky Sports F1s Martin Brundle.Dont miss the F1 Report on Wednesday at 8:30pm on Sky Sports F1 for full analysis of an action-packed Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit. Also See: Rosberg wins dramatic China GP WATCH: Vettel chastises Kvyat Los Angeles Angels Shirts . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Los Angeles Angels Store . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. https://www.cheapangels.com/ .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Angels Jerseys 2020 . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles Angels Gear . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.A win that proved he has reached a different dimension, a testament to his growth. Kei Nishikoris five-set victory over Andy Murray in the quarter-finals of this years US Open was one of the best of his career. Probably one of his biggest since reaching the final in New York in 2014.And it was impressive, coming over four hours and from two sets to one down. But was it, as Japanese tennis veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm suggested, a victory that proved the 26-year-old Nishikori has reached a different dimension? For many the jury is still out.Not that Nishikori has not been successful already. He has won 11 career titles, an Olympic bronze medal, reached the final of the US Open, made three Masters finals, and hit as high as No 4 in the world. But there has been a common theme that seems to have prevented any further progress: fatigue or injury.In the 2014 US Open final he was beaten in straight sets by Marin Cilic, saying afterwards that his body was heavy. After losing in the semi-finals in New York to Stan Wawrinka this year, he said: I was definitely tired, especially in the end. At Wimbledon he did not look fit from the outset against Cilic and eventually retired at 6-1 5-1 down. Nishikori beat Andy Murray at this years US Open There is no doubting Nishikoris talents, but his progression to the very top has been hampered by consistent injury issues. There is also a question of whether he can physically go the distance throughout the two weeks of a Grand Slam.In 2014, one of his coaches, Dante Bottini, said that part of Nishikoris problem with injuries was mental and he didnt really know how to deal with pain and injury.It was a clearly a priority for Nishikori and his team at the time.If I have one goal for next year that would be for Kei to go out there and play 95 percent of the year healthy, said Nishikoris coach Michael Chang in December 2014. To go through the year without having an injury or something happen that takes you out for two to three weeks at a time would be a huge accomplishment and that alone would take his tennis to the next level. Mark Petchey looks ahead to the ATP World Tour Finals Chang also said that he felt Nishikori had an opportunity to win a major on any surface.dddddddddddd.That challenge, though, has not materialised. While he has performed well at the US Open, he has never made it beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon, has only made one quarter-final at Roland Garros and never progressed beyond the last eight in Melbourne.So what does Nishikori need to do to make the next step up?Perhaps his injuries have just been bad luck. Perhaps he need to lighten his load in 2017 and the years ahead. One aspect that could really help him win a Slam would be his serve Michael Chang I have been playing a lot of matches this year, he said last week. Maybe thats why I have been hurting these couple months, not feeling 100 percent yet.At the moment his body seems as though sometimes it is his toughest opponent.But because of his style of play that might not change. Nishikori does not have a huge serve - of the eight players in London he has the fewest aces in 2016 - and rather he excels with his court coverage and brilliant backhand.But grinding out so many points appears to be taking its toll on the world No 5.Chang admitted earlier this year that one aspect that could really help him win a Slam would be his serve. Michael Chang started working with Nishikori ahead of the 2014 season He added: Its improved a lot over the past couple of years but it still needs to get better and more consistent.Nishikori mixed it up at the US Open by serving and volleying, using the tactic to great effect against Murray in the quarter-finals.Sky Sports pundit Mark Petchey said: Hes definitely trying to protect his serve a bit better this year against obviously great returners.But will that be enough for Nishikori to consistently compete with the best?Ahead of the ATP World Tour finals, he acknowledged: I have to do a little better in the big tournaments, especially the Grand Slams and all the ATP World Tour Masters 1000s.Physically, I got much stronger the last couple of years. I try to work hard every day, try to be confident in every match and enjoy my tennis. Its good motivation.Is motivation enough to see the Japanese make the next step? That remains to be seen.Check our game-by-game coverage from all group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals in London - including Andy Murray - on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis. Also See: Panel predictions Stan the danger man Murrays year in numbers Tour Finals at The O2 ' ' '