PARIS -- Five months after his first French Open title and completing a career Grand Slam in Paris, Novak Djokovics reign over mens tennis could be about to end in the City of Lights.Djokovic, a three-time defending champion, lost in the Paris Masters quarterfinals on Friday, leaving his No. 1 ranking open to being snatched by Andy Murray.The British player can rise from No. 2 to 1 in the ATP list for the first time if he reaches the final. He needs one more win after beating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (9), 7-5. His semifinal opponent will be No. 5 Milos Raonic, who defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-6 (4).Murray was aware of Djokovics defeat when he took the court and was sometimes hesitant against Berdych. He rallied from 6-1 down in the tiebreak, and needed four match points to overcome the Czech.Before the match there were a few more nerves maybe than there was earlier in the week, Murray said. But once I got out there, I didnt feel any different to any other match. I didnt play the match differently to how I would have played other matches, which is good. Tomorrow will probably be the same, probably.So dominant on the Parisian red clay last June, Djokovic was far from his best on super-fast carpet and was beaten by Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (2), his first loss against the former U.S. Open champion in 15 matchups.Djokovic made uncharacteristic mistakes from the baseline, called the tournament doctor during the first set, struggled on his serve, and destroyed his hopes of a comeback when he served for the second set at 5-4, hit two double faults, and was broken.He fought until the end though, saving two match points in the 12th game with a fine backhand volley and crosscourt forehand winner, the rare moments when he looked like his usual self. But Cilic, who struck nine aces overall, served extremely well to prevail in the tiebreaker and end Djokovics 17-match winning streak in Paris.I wasnt on the level that I could have been on, Djokovic said. I was also, in this kind of circumstances and with this level of play, in a good position to take the match into the third set, and then two double faults. Just in important moments I wasnt able to deliver. He is a deserved winner.Djokovic has held the top spot for 122 consecutive weeks. But after winning the French Open for the first time in June, his form has yo-yoed. He lost in the third round at Wimbledon, and in the first round of the Olympics. At the U.S Open, he won the first set in the final but Stan Wawrinka rallied to beat him.He admitted his long-awaited victory at Roland Garros took a toll.There was pride and satisfaction in the success I have had with my team, but in the other hand, it was also very exhausting, he said. At a certain point, I had to reach this kind of phase where I had to reflect and say, `OK, I have played on the highest possible level for that much. The drop of form is normal in sports. Im not too concerned about how the future will go for me.If he makes the final, Murray, who has spent 76 weeks at No. 2, will become the 26th player to reach No. 1 since the rankings started in 1973.Hes definitely a player who deserves that, Djokovic said. Undoubtedly, much respect for what he has done. We have known each other since very, very early days. We were, I think, 11 years old when we first played against each other. And to see how he has raised his level in the last 12 months is quite extraordinary.Murray could become the oldest first-time No. 1 at 29 since John Newcombe made it at 30 in 1974.Getting to No. 1, like I said, is 12 months of work, basically, Murray said. Consistency. I have never done that before. My career, I have had periods where I have been consistent for a few months at a time and then dropoffs. I have put myself in a position to do something that takes a lot of consistency, a lot of concentration for a long period of time. Im happy about that.Cilic, who qualified for the ATP Finals this week, will take on American John Isner in the semifinals.The end of the season is just getting better and better, Cilic said.Isner won a hard-fought all-American contest against Jack Sock 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.Tsongas loss combined with Berdychs exit played in favor of Dominic Thiem, who qualified for the ATP Finals in London for the first time. Thiem completed the elite field of Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, Raonic, Kei Nishikori, Gael Monfils and Cilic. Custom Celtics Jersey China . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. 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Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. PITTSBURGH -- Jordan Dangerfield never lost faith, even as the months passed and the dreaded visits to Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlins office informing the safety he was being released from the teams practice squad piled up.Three times between August 2014 and July 2015 Dangerfield found himself looking for work because the Steelers had needs in other areas. And three times they called back, asking Dangerfield if he wanted to put his hand in the pile one more time. Three times Dangerfield said yes.I know guys in the league that I played with that were in the same position, Dangerfield said. I just had to be patient and wait for my time.One that finally presented itself this summer, when Dangerfield made Pittsburghs 53-man roster as a special teamer then found himself making his first career start last week against Kansas City while Robert Golden nursed an aching hamstring.Save for a couple -- OK, more than a couple -- pregame butterflies, Dangerfield proved he belonged, collecting five tackles while hardly looking overwhelmed by the stage. Dangerfield called his performance a sigh of relief, but nothing more.Im not satisfied from that, Dangerfield said. I have to develop my game and improve all around.And thats kind of the point of having a practice squad in the first place, especially in Pittsburgh. A franchise that prides itself on continuity loves to take fliers on players looking for a foothold in the league and molding them into difference makers.I think when guys come here they have that belief, if something happens coach isnt necessarily going to the outside world and pull a guy from a different team, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. Hes going to give a guy here a shot first. That makes guys believe and understand in themselves and the system here.The proof is scattered throughout the roster. The list of practice squad graduates who will be in uniform for the Steelers (3-1) on Sunday when the New York Jets (1-3) visit include five-time Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison and starting left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who now protects the blind side of the man who controls one of the NFLs most dangerous offenses.At some point, Villanueva could be joined in the huddle by tight end Xavier Grimble and right tackle Chris Hubbard, both of former practice squadders who now find themselves thrust into more prominent roles due to injury. Grimble scored the first touchdown on his career in Week 2 against Cincinnati and like Dangerfield -- who was out of football completely in 2013 after failing to make the Buffalo Bills before eventually landing in Pittsburgh -- the former USC tight end took a winding path back to beeing in uniform on game days.ddddddddddddGrimble came out of USC after his junior season in 2013 and went undrafted then bounced between practice squads in New England and San Francisco before catching on in Pittsburgh. There was something about the vibe with the Steelers that was just different.From day one when I got here, there was pressure on me to learn the plays and produce and show what I could do on offense, Grimble said. They call it a developmental group. Youre here for a reason.And its not to just serve as a live tackling dummy. They line up with the starters occasionally and are expected to keep copious notes regardless of status.Were in all the meetings, basically all the team meetings, Dangerfield said. They keep you active. We dont just come run, lift, go to practice and use our bodies at practice. They develop us on and off the field.Such an existence, however, can be tenuous at best. Any little injury that can keep you from the practice field means your time is up. Living arrangements are on a month-to-month basis. Yet there is also a brotherhood among the 10-man practice squad that is hard to replicate. When one of them gets promoted, in a way they all do.Youre always rooting for everybody but practice squad is what it is, its an uphill battle, Grimble said. Youre happy to see guys fight through that adversity and make it on a 53-man roster.The opportunities are coming quickly for Pittsburghs current group with injuries piling up quickly. Grimble only survived cut day because free agent signee Ladarius Green is dealing with an ankle injury thats kept him on the physically unable to perform list. Whenever Green gets healthy, Grimble may become expendable.Dangerfield has become a special teams ace, likely making his spot a little more secure. Hes nowhere near ready to say that hes made it but he did make at least one small change to his lifestyle. He signed a six-month lease before the season. Its not a permanent address, but it sure beats those lonely workouts in the fall of 2013 waiting for the phone to ring.Before the game on Sunday night I was definitely thinking about the time I was sitting at home for a whole year of football, he said. Im thankful for the opportunity I got.Game notes G Ramon Foster (chest) was limited in practice but expects to play after missing last week. ... RT Marcus Gilbert (ankle) did not practice. Hubbard filled in. ... T Ryan Harris (shin), LB Jarvis Jones (ankle), LB Ryan Shazier (knee) did not practice.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '