By wire sources
Goodell considers eliminating Pro Bowl
INDIANAPOLIS — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he is disappointed in the quality of last week’s Pro Bowl and changes must be considered, perhaps even dropping the game altogether.
Speaking on ESPN Radio, Goodell said this year’s Pro Bowl wasn’t “the kind of football we want to be demonstrating to our fans, and you heard it from the fans, the fans were actively booing in the stands.”
Goodell made his remarks on Sunday, hours before the start of the Super Bowl.
Goodell has spoken to the NFL Players Association about his disappointment, adding, “We are going to either have to improve the quality of what we are doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes, or even consider eliminating the game if that is the kind of quality of game we are going to provide.”
The AFC won the game 59-41.
Berdych wins Open Sud de France
MONTPELLIER, France — Tomas Berdych won his seventh career title Sunday, beating defending champion Gael Monfils 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Open Sud de France final.
The top-seeded Czech broke for a 5-3 lead in the final set on a double fault from Monfils. He wrapped it up with his 12th ace.
Berdych relied on a strong serve and deep groundstrokes to grab the lead, but made several unforced errors to drop the second set.
Berdych broke Monfils for a 2-0 lead when the Frenchman sent a backhand long.
The 2010 Wimbledon finalist then saved three break points to hold serve before hitting two consecutive return winners to take the first set.
Monaco beats Berlocq in Vina del Mar final
VINA DEL MAR, Chile — Juan Monaco beat Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-1 in an all-Argentina final at the Vina del Mar VTR Open on Sunday for his fourth ATP title.
The top-seeded Monaco claimed his first title since winning three in 2007 — and all have come on clay. The victory marked a breakthrough for the 27-year-old Monaco, who lost in the final at this tournament in 2008 and 2010.
It was the first ATP final for Berlocq, who advanced after defeating second-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela, another Argentine.
Berlocq, who turned 29 on Friday, dropped only one set during the week.
Mikhail Youzhny wins Zagreb Indoors
ZAGREB, Croatia — Mikhail Youzhny beat Lukas Lacko 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Zagreb Indoors in his 18th career final.
It was the first title for the 29-year-old Russian since St. Petersburg in 2010.
Youzhny faced no break points and lost only 12 points on serve during the 68-minute match.
After both players won opening service games, Youzhny won eight of nine games, winning the first set and three games in the second.
Lacko reached the third round at the Australian Open as a qualifier, but was ousted by Spaniard Rafael Nadal. He had never previously advanced beyond the quarterfinals at an ATP event.
By wire sources