Clanregeln » d. -- Steelers rookie CB Artie Burns on his

Rio -- After an impressive straight sets win over Andy Murray and Heather Watson that catapulted Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna into the mixed-doubles semifinals in Rio, Sania has dismissed any talk of feeling pressure as the prospect of a medal appears on the horizon.Clearly buoyed by a strong performance against a pedigreed pair made up of the worlds second ranked mens singles player and the recently crowned Wimbledon mixed doubles champion, Sania says she would much rather embrace the moment than be intimidated by it.Pressure is something thats always there no matter where we play, she said. I take pride in the fact that I always come through under pressure. We would have preferred the other draw, but we were handed the tougher draw, so at the end of the day we came through and we almost played our best, though we can play better.After a stumbly start, Sania and Bopanna produced a captivating performance on the night, a notable improvement from their first round win over the Australian pair of John Peers and Samantha Stosur. Without the windy conditions that made the ball swirl unpredictably in their first match, Sania and Bopanna were a lot more assured on court.The match was played on court two, one of the three show courts at the Olympic tennis centre. Despite the loss of Bopannas serve in only the second game of the first set, the Indians were not perturbed.Watsons serve was immediately targeted as the weak link and once Bopanna scorched a single hander backhand to clinch the fourth game, the Indians claimed ascendancy in the contest. Bopannas big serve became impenetrable for the rest of the match.?I am still working on my serve every single day even though it is my strength, Bopanna said. I trust my serve so much doesnt matter if I serve two double faults, I know I can go for my second serves.Sania, on her part, uncoiled brutal groundstrokes, creaming service returns and enjoying the better of several baseline exchanges.I think people get a little surprised when I do make those returns, she explained. I feel that if I can read the serve well enough I am able to get to it even if it is a 200mph serve. I think thats one of my biggest strengths which is why I am able to perform the way I am at that level.Sanias incisive returning did not just create trouble for Watson, but she also tackled Murrays serve with élan. Clearly feeling the aftereffects of a bruising three-set quarterfinal that he won earlier in the day against American Steve Johnson, Murray wilted.He began the match by hissing his serves across Sania on the Ad-court side but as the match wore on, he visibly dropped intensity and committed uncharacteristic unforced errors.The fifth game of the second set proved to be decisive, with Sania ripping a forehand to earn a break point on Murrays serve and the Indians going on to convert it. At 5-4, with Bopanna serving for the match, the Indians allowed two match points to slip away before converting on their third with a spanking overhead.It took them into the last four as the only seeded unit still surviving and set up a clash against the American pair of Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram, another doubles specialist. As a more settled pairing, the Indians will perhaps start favourites, though they laugh at tags such as that given how the tennis competition has unfolded in Rio, with a string of high-profile players exiting early.The seedings dont matter, with two sets and a deciding tie break anybody has a chance, Bopanna said. I dont think we are looking at the fact that we are the only seeds. We are just going there, we know we have to keep focusing and winning our matches.Sania echoed those comments.?It isnt just about tennis, she said. Nerves and many things that come into play in the semifinal so we are going to hope to bring our A game again and hopefully be better than even today.Fake Vans Outlet . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Fake Vans Old Skool . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.fakevans.com/ . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Fake Vans Shoes .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Fake Vans Slip-on . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne is expected to ease some of Jonathan Stewarts load this season in the running game.He showed Thursday night hes up to the task.Artis-Payne ran for 77 yards on 18 carries, and Graham Gano kicked six field goals as the Panthers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 18-6 in the final preseason game for both teams.Both teams rested their starters.Artis-Payne, a second-year player from Auburn, showed a strong burst and toughness. He also caught two passes for 18 yards, making a nifty cutback on one play to elude a defender and pick up a first down.Vision is a big thing for me, Artis-Payne said of his biggest improvement since last season. Being able to see and react to the defense. Just seeing stuff in the peripheral.Joe Webb started and played the entire game for the Panthers at quarterback.Landry Jones was ineffective for the Steelers, completing 4 of 5 passes for 29 yards and registering just one first down in four possessions. He was relieved by Bryn Renner, who didnt lead a scoring drive until the fourth quarter.To see the same energy (from the backups), the same intensity and same plays being made (as the starters) it lets you know that the guys understand the standards that have been set in Carolina, Panthers cornerback Bene Benwikere said.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the characteristics of a fourth preseason game is your ability to run the ball and stop the run. They did both better than we did.ROOKIE WATCHSteelers: Cornerback Artie Burns, the No. 25 pick in the draft, made his preseason debut after missing the last three games with a nagging quadriceps injury. He broke up a third-down pass intended for Marcus Lucas in the end zone to save a touchdown. He was a little upsset at himself he didnt come up with an interception.ddddddddddddanthers: Rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley, who was are expected to start, got the night off.POSITION BATTLESSteelers: Running back Daryl Richardson got the best of Fitzgerald Toussaint, rushing nine times for 45 yards and a touchdown.Panthers: Kevin Norwood, battling for the No. 5 receiver spot, might have had his hopes of making the 53-man roster dashed when he was carted to the locker room with a hip injury. Brenton Bersin, on the other hand, had six catches for 89 yards.QUOTABLE:Steelers: Im glad I could show them what I could. -- Steelers rookie CB Artie Burns on his debut.Panthers: Guys were just flying around. -- Panthers LB David Mayo.INJURY UPDATESteelers: Linebackers Travis Feeney (possible concussion), Anthony Chickillo (right foot) and defensive end Ricardo Mathews (neck) left early.Panthers: Rookie offensive tackle Jordan Rigsbee left with a sprained right knee.ROETHLISBERGER, NEWTON SITBen Roethlisberger didnt play, meaning he will head into the regular season having played only two possessions -- although both of those resulted in touchdowns. League MVP Cam Newton didnt play, either, finishing the preseason by leading 15 drives that resulted in just 13 points.GETTING HIS KICKSGano had no problems adjusting to new holder Andy Lee, acquired in a trade earlier this week. Gano was 6 of 7 on field goal attempts, with his only miss coming from 46 yards.GAME DELAYEDThe start of the game was delayed about 30 minutes because of heavy rains and lightning in the area.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '