LONDON -- For 2 1/2 hours, Venus Williams traded big serves and hard groundstrokes with Petra Kvitova on Centre Court. Williams was playing with some of the power and pace that had brought her five Wimbledon titles. But when it was over, she was left with a sense of disappointment. "The battle is always a little more enjoyable when you win," Williams said Friday after coming within two points of victory but losing 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-5 to Kvitova, the 2011 champion. All four of their previous meetings went to three sets and this one was no different, with plenty of suspense, intensity, and only a few break points. Williams looked stronger early in the match and was up 5-4, 15-30 on Kvitovas serve, in the second set. But the Czech came up with some big serves, held and won the second set tiebreaker. The players then held serve for the first 11 games of the third set before Kvitova broke No. 30 Williams for the first time in the last game. "Its a shame there had to be a loser in this match and more of a shame that it had to be me," Williams said. Despite the loss, Williams had reasons to feel positive about her week in London. At the age of 34, she has been playing well this season, winning a title in Dubai and reaching the final in Auckland and Miami. This week, she got to the third round at a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time in her past 10 appearances. After her battle with Kvitova, she reiterated that retirement is not in her plans. More than that, Williams still believes in her ability to add to her total of seven Grand Slams. "People have been trying to retire me since I was like 25. For some reason in tennis we always do that to our players. Its weird," said Williams, who disclosed three years ago that she was diagnosed with an energy-sapping autoimmune disease. "We dont encourage them to stick around," she added. "Its like, Get out of here. So Im not getting out of here. I think this year has been a great year for me. Ive had some tough losses, but Ive learned a lot from them. Im finding my way back on my feet. Im proud of myself for what Im achieving on the court." The former No. 1 is next scheduled to play in Cincinnati and Montreal. She said she might add more tournaments to her summer schedule to keep improving her game. "So that way Ill just have a chance, when its really time to play good tennis, I would have had those matches under my belt," she said. Luke Willson Lions Jersey . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. Detroit Lions Jerseys . -- San Francisco 49ers offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman is a finalist to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State, his agent said Monday. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/lions...n-black-jersey/. LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. Levine Toilolo Jersey .Former NBA forward Morris Peterson has been added to TSNs Toronto Raptors broadcast team. Christian Jones Jersey . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday.BALTIMORE - The most surprising aspect of Steve Smiths performance against the Carolina Panthers was that it didnt include taunts or bluster.Smith opted to punish the Panthers through his play on the field, and by the end of the afternoon the 35-year-old receiver had made a definitive statement.Smith burned his former team with seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 38-10 victory Sunday.Smith spent 13 seasons with Carolina before he was released during the off-season in a cost-cutting move. Proving hes still got a knack for making the big play, Smith scored twice in the second quarter to help put Baltimore (3-1) in front 21-7 at halftime.And he didnt get in the face of the defender on either occasion.I didnt have anything good, bad or indifferent to say. I just played. At the end of the day, honestly they didnt deserve anything I had to say that would be derogatory a€” and I didnt need to, Smith said. They didnt even deserve me to spin the ball on them. I just caught it and put it down and went about my business.His first touchdown came on a pass that deflected off the right hand of teammate Owen Daniels. Smith caught the ball in stride and took it into the end zone to complete a 61-yard play.Nothing the Panthers havent seen before.He did some really good things, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. And thats who Steve is.Smith also scored from 21 yards out with a diving reception. He celebrated in dignified fashion, taking the ball with him to the sideline for safekeeping.Before the game, it was evident to Ravens coach John Harbaugh that Smith was going to keep his yapping to a minimum.He recognized the gravity of the situation, Harbaugh said, the need to get control of those emotions.It was also a huge day for Joe Flacco, went 22 of 31 for 327 yards and three touchdowns.Carolina (2-2) has lost two straight, both in lopsided fashion against AFC North foes.Cam Newton completed 14 of 25 passes for 197 yards. Under duress for much of the afternoon, he was sacked twice.Newton received little help from a running game that was without leading rusher Jonathan Stewart (knee), and DeAngelo Williams left in the second quarter with an ankle injury.Carolinas defence was also spotty. One week after yielding 264 yards rushing in a loss to Piittsburgh, the Panthers gave up 454 yards of offence and 25 first downs.ddddddddddddWorse, the Panthers lost a fumble, didnt force a turnover and were penalized seven times a€” twice for having 12 men on the field.Apparently weve got to look at what were doing and make sure it gets corrected, Rivera said. Weve got to find answers and weve got to do it quickly.Flacco led four drives of 80 yards, all of them resulting in touchdowns. Justin Forsett ran for 68 yards, backup Lorenzo Taliaferro gained 58, and each scored.The Panthers held the ball for nearly eight minutes on the opening possession and drove to the Baltimore 17 before a penalty and sack took them out of field goal range.After that, neither team got close to scoring until Smith caught the deflection to put the Ravens up 7-0 early in the second quarter. After the score, he took a bow in the end zone, ran off the field and heaved the ball into the stands.Carolina tied it with an 80-yard drive, capped by Newtons 28-yard pass to wide-open rookie Kelvin Benjamin in the front left corner of the end zone.Baltimore quickly responded. Flacco threw for 39 yards and Forsett ran for 41, capping it with an 11-yard touchdown for a 14-7 lead.After the Panthers went three-and-out for the first time, Smith got his second touchdown despite being harassed by cornerback Melvin White, who was called for pass interference. What made the score even more special was that Flacco fumbled the snap, scooped up the ball and lofted a floater that found its mark in the end zone.Torrey Smiths first touchdown of the year, on a 24-yard catch, made it 28-7 in the third quarter.Baltimore clinched it with a 12-play drive for a 35-10 lead with 11:34 remaining. Flacco went 5 for 5 for 56 yards on the possession, twice hitting Steve Smith.Afterward, someone asked the veteran receiver how he planned to mark the occasion.Watch a few highlights, eat a little apple pie, move on, he replied.Notes: Retired TE Todd Heap was inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor at halftime. ... Carolina FB Richie Brockel left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. ... Baltimore DT Brandon Williams got his first career fumble recovery. ... 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