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Pegula and Pliskova power through DDF Tennis Championships knockouts
World No 3 Jessica Pegula overcame an early scare to defeat qualifier Ana Bogdan by a score of 6-4, 6-3 and go to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Bogdan of Romania defeated her top-ranked foe in game two and quickly raced to a 3-1 lead, but Pegula then turned on the jets and won five of the next six games to take the opening set.
Attempting to reach a second successive WTA final after her loss to World No 1 Iga Swiatek in Doha last weekend, Pegula remained on top in the second set, closing the match out in just one hour and 36 minutes to become the first name in the Dubai quarter-finals.
“She came out really intense so I really had to raise my level. I’m just glad I was able to come back in that first set and kept my focus,” said Pegula, whose parents own NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL outfit Buffalo Sabres.
World No 3 Jessica Pegula is in the quarter-finals.
Madison Keys, a countrywoman of Pegula, kept up her remarkable form by defeating 15th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-1, in just 57 minutes as she attempted to advance to her maiden quarterfinal in Dubai.
With a leg injury, Azarenka appeared to be having trouble moving, but Keys triumphed easily after stunning Caroline Garcia, the fourth seed, in the Round of 32. Keys, a Grand Slam finalist at the US Open, worked really hard to complete the task.
“Obviously not feeling well, but I guess I get to play another match,” said Azarenka. The 27-year-old stated, “I’ll use what I did today and do it again tomorrow. “The only thing you can do in a circumstance like this is concentrate on your own game and make your shots.”
Over on Court One, Karolina Pliskova continued her fine form at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, securing her place in the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 victory over Anhelina Kalinina.
Admitting she feels “relaxed” in Dubai, 2015 runner-up Pliskova followed up her emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over No 6 seed Maria Sakkari in the Round of 32 with another solid performance against the Ukraine’s Kalinina, who dumped out 10th seed Veronika Kudermetova in her opening match.
The UAE-Oman railway project, officially known as Hafeet Rail, has reached 40 % completion, marking a major milestone in one of the region’s most ambitious transport initiatives.
Once operational, the cross-border rail line will connect Abu Dhabi with Sohar in just 1 hour and 40 minutes, while journeys from Al Ain to Sohar will take only 47 minutes.
First modern cross-border train in the region
Announced in 2023, the project is a joint venture between Oman Rail, Etihad Rail, and Mubadala.
Spanning 303km, the railway will be the first modern cross-border train in the Arab world, carrying both passengers and cargo between the UAE and Oman.
Route and speed
The line will run from the UAE’s existing rail network in Al Wathba to Sohar’s port, passing through varied terrain including deserts, valleys, and mountains alongside Jebel Hafeet.
- Train speed: up to 200 km/h
- Route length (main section): approx. 238km
- Travel time: significantly reduced between key cities
Major engineering works
The project includes:
- 2,500m of tunnels through mountainous terrain
- 21 overbridges and 39 underpasses
- Viaducts and bridges to ensure smooth, uninterrupted rail flow
These features will help maintain efficient travel across challenging landscapes.
Freight services between nations
Beyond passenger travel, Hafeet Rail is expected to create an integrated logistics network, strengthening trade and economic ties between the UAE and Oman. Freight locomotives will be used to power cargo services across the network, helping to strengthen regional logistics, trade flows, and supply chain efficiency between the two Gulf countries.
The project is valued at around $3 billion and is expected to play a major role in enhancing connectivity and economic integration across the region.
While construction is progressing across multiple locations, no official completion date has yet been announced.
His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the launch of the Dubai Metro Gold Line, a major new infrastructure project set to expand the emirate’s transport network.
The 24-kilometre line, with an estimated cost of Dh 34 billion, will pass through 15 key strategic areas, serving around 1.5 million residents and connecting to 55 major real estate developments currently under construction.
Key route and connectivity
The new line will run from Al Ghubaiba in the north to Jumeirah Golf Estates, linking historic and emerging parts of the city.
- Total stations: 18
- Fully underground line
- Intersections with existing Red and Green Metro Lines
- Integration with Etihad Rail passenger stations in Meydan and Jumeirah Golf Estates
Boost to metro network
The Gold Line will increase the Dubai Metro’s overall length by 25%, significantly improving connectivity across the city.
The project is scheduled for completion on September 9, 2032.
Sheikh Mohammed said the project is part of Dubai’s ongoing ambition to become the world’s best city to live in, with continued investment in infrastructure and mobility.
The new line is expected to play a key role in reducing congestion, improving travel times, and supporting urban growth across Dubai.
Inside the UAE-Oman Hafeet Rail project now 40% complete
New Dubai Metro Gold Line to expand network by 25%
