UPI NewsTrack Sports

Allaster named CEO of WTA Tour

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 13 (UPI) -- Stacey Allaster was named Monday chairman and chief executive officer of the WTA Tour.

Allaster, the Tour's president since 2006, succeeds Larry Scott, who stepped down from his position after six years July 1 to become the next commissioner of the NCAA Pac-10 Conference.

Allaster, 46, joined the Tour Jan. 1, 2006, in the then newly created role of president. She was responsible for the Tour's operations, business development, television, new media and tournament and player relations.

Before taking her previous position, Allaster served as vice president and tournament director at Tennis Canada.

Ravens veteran wide receiver may retire

BALTIMORE, July 13 (UPI) -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason told ESPN Monday he considers himself retired but may change his mind next month.

"If what I'm doing becomes work then it's time for me to go," Mason told ESPN. "It started to become work for me. My workouts this off-season continued to get a little harder. I don't think it had anything to do with my age because physically, I know I can play."

Mason, 35, spent eight seasons with Tennessee before moving to Baltimore. In 186 games over 12 seasons, the two-time Pro Bowl selection had 790 receptions for 10,061 yards and 52 touchdowns.

In 13 playoff games, Mason had 43 receptions for 518 yards.

In his early years with the Titans, Mason returned 182 punts for 1,590 yards and two TDs and had 3,496 yards on 156 kickoff returns and one touchdown.

Jets release tight end Bubba Franks

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., July 13 (UPI) -- The New York Jets Monday released veteran tight end Bubba Franks.

Franks joined the Jets last season after spending eight years with Green Bay. He had a career-low six catches for 47 yards in eight games.

In his final year with the Packers, he caught just 18 passes, then a career-low, for 132 yards with three touchdowns.

In 122 NFL games, including 98 starts, Franks has 262 receptions for 2,347 yards with 32 touchdowns. He earned three Pro Bowl berths in his eight years with Green Bay.

Rezai wins; Pavlyuchenkova loses in Italy

PALERMO, Italy, July 13 (UPI) -- Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai was a winner and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was upset Monday at the Palermo International.

Italy's Alberta Brianti defeated Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 4-0, as the promising Russian retired with a right shoulder injury during the second set.

Rezai rolled over Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva 6-2, 6-4 and Italian favorite Roberta Vinci beat Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

Additional first-round victories saw Belarusian Olga Govortsova defeat Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-3, 6-1 and American Varvara Lepchenko beat Italian wild card Corinna Dentoni 6-3, 6-2.