Kuznetsova lost to the Dane

Chronicle of sporting events

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova played unsuccessfully at the WTA women's tournament in Eastbourne. In the first match she lost to the Danish Caroline Wozniacki - 2:6, 2:6. After the meeting, Kuznetsova linked the reasons for her defeat to the difficulties of adapting to grass. “The opponent had many advantages because she knew how to play on this surface,” AP quoted Svetlana as saying. Kuznetsova also added that she has several days left to train on grass to prepare for Wimbledon. “I'm actually disappointed because I wanted to play a few more matches on grass in Eastbourne. But what can you do, it’s tennis,” she said.

Kuznetsova's doubles colleague Amelie Mauresmo may miss the upcoming Wimbledon due to injury. During the second round match in Eastbourne, the Frenchwoman felt pain in her left leg, which made it difficult for her to move around the court and forced her to withdraw from the tournament. However, according to Mauresmo, she is optimistic and will try to do everything possible to recover in time for Wimbledon. “I hope that resting for the next two or three days will help me with this,” Mauresmo told reporters. Another Frenchwoman, Tatyana Golovin, will definitely not take part in the upcoming Wimbledon. At the end of March, the tennis player underwent two operations - to remove a femoral cyst and appendicitis - and decided not to risk her health for now.

Unlike Kuznetsova, other Russians perform quite successfully in Eastbourne. In the quarterfinals, Nadezhda Petrova will face Ekaterina Makarova, who knocked out her compatriot Vera Zvonareva in the second round - 6:3, 6:3. Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and our Alisa Kleybanova will play in another quarterfinal. In the previous match, Kleybanova left another Frenchwoman, Aravan Reze, out of action - 6:3, 5:7, 6:3. This second round match lasted two and a half hours.

Elena Dementieva reached the quarterfinals of the tournament in Holland, beating Italian Sara Errani in the second round - 6:3, 7:5.

NHL changed the rules

The NHL Board of Directors adopted changes to the rules of the game that apply in the league and in some respects, as is known, differ from the rules of the game in the IIHF, according to which Russia and the rest of the world play, Sports.ru reports.

According to the amendments, the first throw-in in the event of a change in numbers will be held in the zone of the team that remains in the minority. Additionally, contact between players chasing the puck in a icing situation is only allowed if the puck is gained. Pushing an opponent away from the puck is prohibited. An unforced or dangerous attack by one of the hockey players may be punished by removal. If the puck bounces off the goal frame, the subsequent faceoff will take place in the area where the puck went out of play.

Kostya Tszyu will become Povetkin's sparring partner

2004 Olympic heavyweight champion, mandatory contender for the IBF championship title, Russian Alexander Povetkin (pictured) began preparing for a fight against American Taurus Sykes. The fight is scheduled for July 19 and will take place in Chekhov near Moscow.

During the preparatory training camp, the location of which has been chosen in the Caucasus, the main emphasis will be on cross-country cross-country racing over mountainous rough terrain and strength exercises. On July 2, Povetkin is scheduled to spar with the former absolute world champion in the up to 63.5 kg weight category, Russian Kostya Tszyu. Let us remember that the other day Tszyu officially announced the end of his professional boxing career.

The final ATP tournament will change its registration for five years

Starting from 2009, the ATP men's final tournament will change its venue, name and sponsors. The competition, which involves the top eight players at the end of the season, will move from Shanghai to London for the next five years. The tournament will be sponsored by one of the British banks, which will annually transfer $7 million. The tournament will be called the ATP World Tour Finals.

The NHL management agreed to the resale of Tampa and Edmonton

The NHL management has given permission for the purchase of Tampa by a group of investors led by Hollywood producer Oren Coles. The transaction value is estimated at $206 million, AP reports. Negotiations to purchase the club have been ongoing since February and have now been successfully completed.

Canadian billionaire Daryl Katz, a pharmaceutical businessman, has received approval from the National Hockey League to acquire Edmonton. The sale process is expected to be completed by June 30.

Let us remember that the deal started nine months ago with a sum of $145 million. Now its value has increased to $200 million. The new owner of Edmonton promised to invest $100 million in the construction of a new arena instead of the outdated Rexal, to build a new training center, and most importantly -- keep the team in Edmonton.

Our sailboats received seven Olympic licenses

The Russian national sailing team received another license to participate in the Olympic Games in Beijing. At the qualifying competitions held in 2007-2008, the Russians won six places - in the 470, Ingling, Finn, Laser Standard and RS:X classes in the men's and women's competitions. In the Tornado and Laser Radial classes, our athletes were one step away from winning licenses. However, based on the results of the redistribution of unclaimed vouchers, the athlete from Tolyatti Anastasia Chernova, who adequately fought for a voucher in the Laser Radial class, received the right to represent Russia at the Olympics. Thus, seven Russian crews will be represented this August in Qingdao, where the sailing program of the Beijing Olympics will take place.

Prepared by Olga ERMOLINA