ivera called Seattle one of the toughest places in the NFL t

LILLE, France - Roger Federer will have the chance to clinch the last big prize in tennis eluding him.The 17-time Grand Slam champion and Stan Wawrinka swept aside Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the doubles to put Switzerland into a 2-1 lead against France in the Davis Cup final on Saturday.Federer can secure the decisive point against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first reverse singles on Sunday. If Tsonga wins, Wawrinka and Gael Monfils will decide the final.Despite a humbling straight-sets loss to Monfils on the opening day, the 33-year-old Federer put his back problems behind him to produce a superb display against a French pair that failed to seize its chances in the second set.Im fine now. I understand you want to know everything about (my back). But I know as much as you do, said Federer, who picked up the injury last week at the ATP Finals. Ive been very open and honest. For me, its just about now, whatever it feels like, I feel like I am at 100 per cent. Ill give it 100 per cent.Federer and Wawrinka, who won doubles gold at the 2008 Olympics, ended a four-game losing streak in Davis Cup at the right time, and posted their first win together in the event in three years. It was also their first doubles win on clay.I think the way we prepared mentally for this doubles match was different. We know that we are able, when we play well, to beat the top players, Wawrinka said.With drums, cowbells and cheers creating a deafening atmosphere in the converted Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Wawrinka and Federer did not concede a single break and dominated the key points to withstand their opponents charge in the second set.They played extremely solid. Roger served incredibly well. Their second shots were extremely efficient. They made no mistakes. They never made mistakes, summed up Benneteau, a doubles specialist who won the French Open this year. At the net, Stan was extremely good. He didnt miss much. And we played against two exceptional servers.Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer were initially set to play but Swiss captain Severin Luthi changed his lineup after Federer was deemed fit.His French counterpart Arnaud Clement stuck to his decision to send in Gasquet and Benneteau, and brushed off speculation that he was forced to rest Tsonga because of an injury. Tsonga and Gasquet trained together earlier Saturday, and Clement was bombarded with questions on his main players condition.Imagine if there was something, I wouldnt tell you anyway, Clement said. Of course, I can just say that Jo rested today for some reasons, and there will be no problems tomorrow.French Tennis Federation president Jean Gachassin later told French TV that Tsonga was doubtful for Sundays singles because of pain in an elbow.Federers prediction that he would play better in the doubles was right, as he served and moved far better. The Swiss duo converted their dominance to break for a 4-2 lead in the first set when Wawrinka unleashed a powerful forehand that Gasquet could hardly touch.With Federer improving as the match progressed, they sealed the set in just 28 minutes but were offered a tougher challenge in the second. The French returned better yet failed to seize their opportunities as the former Olympic champions saved five break points.Federer did not look annoyed by his back at all, hitting some acrobatic smashes and stretching for volleys while racing forward and back with ease.Benneteau saved two break points with two consecutive winners in the ninth game but Gasquet then showed his nerves when he was let down by his serve two games later. The Swiss made no mistake and converted the first one, with Wawrinka firing a forehand down the line that sent the Swiss fans into rapture.Put on the ropes, the French fended off four break points early in the third set but another stunning forehand passing shot from Wawrinka gave the Swiss the decisive break in the fifth game.We came on the court to take that point, we were aggressive, we knew what we had to do, and we did a good job, said the fourth-ranked Wawrinka. We know each other so well. Irv Smith Jr. Jersey . Sijsling, ranked 74th in the world, was leading 6-0, 4-1 when his Italian opponent called it quits after just 39 minutes on court. In a match pitting together two qualifiers, Michal Przysiezny of Poland defeated local favourite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for only his second Tour win of the season. 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"Its just instinct, Ive turned and had a quick look and seen the goalkeeper off his line," Rooney said.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Cam Newton said if the Panthers hope to make a deep playoff run theyll need to cut down on mistakes and make more plays on offence Saturday night at Seattle.Carolina turned over the ball three times on Saturday against Arizona but managed to escape with a 27-16 win thanks to a defence that limited quarterback Ryan Lindley and the Cardinals to 78 yards, the fewest allowed in NFL post-season history.Those things cant happen, especially in playoff football. We cant expect to win when we have three turnovers, Newton said after his first career playoff win.The Panthers will face the Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs. Carolina lost to Seattle in each of the past three seasons by a total of 13 points, including a 13-9 defeat on Oct. 26 in Charlotte. All three of those losses were in Charlotte.Coach Ron Rivera called Seattle one of the toughest places in the NFL to play in a statement released through the team on Sunday night.You are playing a great team in front of a loud crowd, Rivera said. ... Playing on the road late in the season at New Orleans and Atlanta should help us because they were basically playoff games for us. Well just have to deal with it. They are a good team wherever you play them.Rivera also said that rookie wide receiver Philly Brown had an MRI on his left shoulder and his status for Seattle is day to day.Brown injured the shoulder against Arizona in the first half and did not return. He was a late-season addition to the starting lineup and provided the Panthers with some much-needed speed and a legitimate deep threat.Newton is 1-1 as a starting quarterback in the playoffs, but has never started a post-season game on the road.He praised his defences effort after the game, but didnt appear too thrilled with the overall performance of the team.The Panthers jumped to a 10-0 lead, but a fumble by returner Brenton Bersin and an interception by Newton — a play in whicch wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery ran the wrong route — led to two Arizona touchdowns, giving the Cardinals a 14-13 lead at halftime.ddddddddddddWithout finger pointing, it cant happen, Newton said.Carolina players said it was frustrating to be down by one in the locker room knowing they had outgained Arizona 208-65.We started out fast on both sides of the ball and on special teams, but it kind of fizzled in the (middle of the game), Newton said. That fizzle cant happen if we expect to do great things.Newton also had a fumble early in the fourth quarter with the Panthers up 27-14, giving the Cardinals the ball at the Carolina 8 with a chance to get back in the game. But All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly bailed him out by intercepting Lindley near the goal line on the next play.We have to play better than we have, Rivera said. We gave them an opportunity to stay in the game. ... We just have to be smarter than some of the things we did out there. We have to protect the football. Its a very valuable thing.Kuechly finished with 10 tackles, drawing praise from tight end Greg Olsen.I know J.J. Watt is a great player, hes phenomenal, but you cant find a guy who impacts the game on defence like Luke, Olsen said after the game. The run game, the pass game, covering running backs. ... I mean the guy is unbelievable. Luke is the best defensive player I have ever played with. (Brian) Urlacher was like that ... a similar, dynamic kind of player, but Luke is that good already. Hes phenomenal.The Panthers were 3-8-1 at one point in the season, but managed to fight back and win the NFC South to land a home playoff game. Despite their record, Newton said the Panthers arent satisfied after their first post-season win in nine years.We have a long way to go, Newton said. 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