It took Coco Gauff a while to wake up on Sunday, but when she did it was lights out for Oceane Dodin as the American third seed stormed back from 4-2 down to earn a 6-4 6-0 win and a place in the Miami Open fourth round.
World number one Iga Swiatek was working the night shift at Hard Rock stadium but also had trouble getting in gear before taming Czech 26th seed Linda Noskova 6-7(7) 6-4 6-4 to keep her bid for a second “Sunshine Double” – back-to-back wins at Indian Wells and Miami Open – on track.
While Swiatek was not at her best, the effort was enough to improve her season record to 22-2 and set up a meeting with 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the round of 16.
“Sometimes we have matches like that and we need to figure out how to close them anyway,” Swiatek told reporters. “For sure it wasn’t easy.
“There were just many ups and downs. I’m happy that after the first set I had a better idea on what to do, and I just tried to do that in important moments.”
Gauff sleepwalked through much of her opening set in the first match on Hard Rock Stadium court, but when the alarm went off the US Open champion swept 10 straight games to stun the French lucky loser.
With Gauff pouring on the pressure, Dodin began to crumble, piling up nine double faults and 26 unforced errors compared to just seven by her 20-year-old opponent.
“She’s a big hitter. She likes the game on her terms,” Gauff told reporters. “I was trying my best to get deep in the court and just weather the storm.
“Overall I feel good so far. I’m trying to improve with each match. Definitely playing a little bit better than I was last week in Indian Wells.”
With the win, Gauff matched her best Miami result and will await the winner between Caroline Garcia and Naomi Osaka for a place in the quarter-finals.
After a disappointing day for the American men on Saturday when three of the top four seeds exited, the US women picked up the flag with fifth seed Jessica Pegula and 20th seed Emma Navarro also advancing.
Pegula, who has reached the Miami Open semi-finals for the last two years, took another step towards another appearance in the last four with a 7-5 6-4 win over Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
Navarro, coming off a quarter-final run last week at Indian Wells where she beat world number two Aryna Sabalenka and 17th ranked Elina Svitolina, continued her superb form in Miami with a 6-2 3-6 6-0 third round win over Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini.
In other action, 23rd seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia came out on top 7-6(4) 7-5 in a third round slugfest with Japan’s Osaka that featured a total of 28 aces.
Helped by 16 aces, Garcia has now won two matches at a tournament for the first time since the China Open last October and will next meet another big-hitter third seed Coco Gauff for a place in the quarter-finals.
Rio Ferdinand may be done with UK living, for now.
The former Manchester United star, 47, has listed his seven-bedroom Kent mansion for £10.5 million (Dh52 million), hinting his move to Dubai is permanent.
Set in the exclusive Farnborough Park estate, the 12,500 sq ft home features landscaped grounds, a private gym, grand reception spaces, and a luxury master suite with dual dressing rooms. He bought it in 2008 for around £2.7 million, meaning a potential £8 million profit, though tax could apply depending on residency status.
Ferdinand moved to Dubai last year with his wife Kate and their children. They are now living in a luxury villa in Al Barari.
He has been candid about the move, citing more family time, an improved lifestyle, and the appeal of a fresh start. “The lifestyle, safety and weather, it just works for us,” Ferdinand said in the report.
He’s not alone. Vincent Kompany is also reportedly selling his UK home, as more football names rethink where they’re based.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has alerted motorists to expected traffic delays on key roads on Wednesday, April 22, due to the AFC Champions League 2 match taking place at Al Wasl Club.
The fixture between Qatar’s Al Ahli and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia is part of the ongoing AFC Champions League 2, Asia’s second-tier continental competition, which has been drawing strong crowds across the region. Matches at this stage of the tournament typically attract large numbers of fans, especially when hosted in major cities like Dubai, leading to increased traffic around stadium zones.
Authorities expect congestion on roads leading to and around the stadium, particularly during pre-match and post-match hours, as supporters head to watch the game live.
Motorists are advised to plan their journeys, allow extra travel time, and consider alternative routes to avoid delays.
To help ease congestion, the RTA confirmed that additional parking spaces will be available behind the stadium, offering more options for those attending the match.
The advisory is part of ongoing efforts to manage traffic during major sporting events and ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience for residents and visitors across Dubai.
If you’re driving around Abu Dhabi this weekend, you might want to plan, because several key roads are set to close.
The Run for the Nation 5km race is taking over Wahat Al Karama this Saturday, bringing together the community for a morning of fitness and fun.
But it also means temporary traffic disruptions you should know about.
Here’s what’s happening Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in partnership with the Zayed Charity Run, the event kicks off at 8am, and it’s completely free to join.
To keep runners safe, road closures will be in place from 5am to 10am around the area. There are additional lane closures on E20 due to ongoing infrastructure works:
• Right lane towards Abu Dhabi closed from April 17 (2pm)- April 20 (5am) • Entry & exit from Al Fursan Street closed from April 18-April 19
Expect delays around Al Fursan Street and Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street (E20).
What should motorists do • Leave earlier than usual • Follow diversion signs • Avoid the area if possible during peak hours
While traffic may slow things down, the event is all about community, fitness, and bringing people together, a big win for Abu Dhabi’s active lifestyle push.
So whether you’re running or just commuting, be ready, plan smart, and stay moving.
