An Early Exit for Davenport in Preparation for Wimbledon

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport lost in her latest injury comeback, beaten by Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3), in the wind Wednesday at the Eastbourne grass-court tennis tournament at Eastbourne, England.

“It wasn’t a nice way to play tennis because win or lose you don’t feel like you’ve hit the ball well,” Davenport said. “I fought hard to come back and had some chances, but she came up with some good serves.”

Davenport has been slowed by foot problems and this was her third injury comeback of the year. She said she had no trouble with her foot.

Defending champion Chanda Rubin, Jennifer Capriati and Daniela Hantuchova won second-round matches at this grass-court tuneup for Wimbledon.

Rubin, seeded second, downed Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand, 6-0, 6-3; Capriati, seeded third, reached the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Amy Frazier and fourth-seeded Hantuchova of Slovakia topped Alexandra Stevenson, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

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Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne reached the Ordina Open quarterfinals at Rosmalen, Netherlands, moving closer to a rematch of their all-Belgian final at the French Open.

Amelie Mauresmo did not fare as well. The third-seeded Frenchwoman lost to Barbara Rittner, 6-7 (1), 6-0, 7-5, in the second round.

Among the men, second-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand lost to Raemon Sluiter of the Netherlands, 7-5, 6-4, in the second round. Third-seeded Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands routed Christophe Rochus of Belgium, 6-0, 6-0, and sixth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals.

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Top-seeded Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco was upset in the second round of the Samsung Open at Nottingham, England, losing to Wayne Arthurs of Australia, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Also reaching the third round of the Wimbledon tuneup were Hicham Arazi, Greg Rusedski and Mardy Fish.

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Lleyton Hewitt is suing the ATP for $1.5 million, contending he was unfairly fined for failing to give an interview to ESPN in Cincinnati last August.

Lawyers for the Australian star say the organization that runs men’s tennis damaged his reputation and acted in bad faith. The ATP said it had not been served with the lawsuit but said Hewitt’s claims were “without merit.”

Hockey

Goaltender Tom Barrasso retired after playing 19 NHL seasons with six teams, including 12 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Barrasso won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

So that he could end his career in Pittsburgh, the Penguins signed him to a contract and then announced his retirement.

The Long Beach Ice Dogs signed veteran free-agent forward Christian Skoryna to a contract for the 2003-04 ECHL season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pro Football

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rewarded quarterback Brad Johnson for leading the team to its first Super Bowl championship, giving him a contract extension that includes a $6-million signing bonus and is worth $25 million over the next four seasons.

The restructured deal provides General Manager Rich McKay with salary cap room to possibly address the contract situations of defensive tackles Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland, who can become free agents after next season.

The New York Giants signed defensive end Radell Lockhart and released defensive lineman Brad Harris.... The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran wide receiver Matthew Hatchette.... Middle linebacker Randall Godfrey was released by the Tennessee Titans.... Defensive end Mark Word signed a one-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns.... Former Oakland Raider linebacker Terry Wooden was hired as a scout by the Buffalo Bills.

Golf

Defending champion Eddie Heinen of Las Vegas and medalist Roy Moon of Los Angeles led 16 golfers who advanced to the second round of match play at the California Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach.

Heinen is trying to become the first person to win consecutive titles since Frank “Bud” Taylor in 1954-55.

Michelle Wie, 13, shot a one-under-par 71 and was three shots off the lead at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in Palm Coast, Fla.

Wie, already qualified to play in the U.S. Women’s Open, rebounded from a 73 in the first round. Virada Nirapathpongporn of Thailand is the clubhouse leader. Play was delayed early Wednesday because of rain and then suspended because of darkness with 30 players still on the course. Players will finish the second round of stroke play today, then move to match play.

Miscellany

University of Pittsburgh wide receiver Billy Gaines was critically injured after accidentally falling through a church ceiling and landing on a pew at Pittsburgh. Gaines, a sophomore, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh with spinal cord injuries and a fractured skull, police said. Hospital officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The board of directors of the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles has authorized expenditures of $882,650 to benefit local youth sports programs, including grants of $339,442 to 17 organizations.

It also approved spending $483,208 on AAF summer youth programs.

NASCAR driver Brett Bodine, injured in a crash during practice at Michigan International Speedway, was released from the hospital after surgery for a broken collarbone.