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Dubai – A quarter-century after three players from a single nation last reached the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the 2026 tournament is witnessing a remarkable American presence. Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula have all advanced to the final four, setting the stage for a potentially historic weekend of tennis. The American trio will face Elina Svitolina, with the winners battling for the championship on Saturday.

The strong showing by American players comes as a surprise to some, given the absence of top stars Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek from this year’s competition. However, the success of Anisimova, Gauff, and Pegula highlights the growing depth of talent within American women’s tennis. This impressive run is particularly notable as both semifinal matchups are rematches from the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open, adding another layer of intrigue to Friday’s contests.

Friday’s schedule begins with the No. 2 seed, Amanda Anisimova, facing off against No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula at 5 p.m. Local time (8 a.m. ET). Following that, No. 3 seed Coco Gauff will take on No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina. The matches will be played at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre, and the winners will compete for the title on Saturday.

Gauff Faces Familiar Foe in Svitolina

Coco Gauff secured her spot in the semifinals with an impressive 6-0, 6-2 victory over Alexandra Eala, though she admitted to some surprise at reaching this stage of the tournament. “But sometimes one match can change everything,” Gauff said after her win. The 20-year-old has shown resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming a recent slump that included a first-round loss in Doha to Elisabetta Cocciaretto and a hard-fought victory over Elise Mertens in Dubai’s round of 16, where she registered a tournament-high 36 double faults.

Despite ongoing concerns about her serve – she had eight double faults against Eala – Gauff’s defensive skills and return of serve have been exceptional. She has converted 19 break points, the most in the tournament, and forced 33 unforced errors from Eala through relentless retrieving. Svitolina, a two-time Dubai champion (2017, 2018), advanced to the semifinals after a comeback win against Antonia Ruzic, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, saving 11 of 14 break points in the process. The Ukrainian player will undoubtedly recall her dominant performance against Gauff at the Australian Open just 24 days ago, a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Gauff acknowledged that she needs to improve her first-serve percentage, currently at 41% compared to Svitolina’s 71%. “She played well that match, she definitely did, but I too feel like I beat myself up a little bit,” Gauff said, reflecting on the Australian Open loss. “I can learn from that when I’m maybe starting the match off leisurely, how to combat that.”

Anisimova and Pegula Set for Another Clash

Amanda Anisimova demonstrated her fighting spirit in the quarterfinals, overcoming defending champion Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) in a three-set battle. This comeback victory marked Anisimova’s first of the year and ended Andreeva’s title defense. Anisimova has established a reputation for defeating reigning WTA 1000 champions, a feat she has now accomplished three times, second only to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the history of the event.

To neutralize Andreeva’s strong defense, Anisimova strategically came to the net 25 times, utilizing drop shots and court coverage. “I felt like I was trying different things…coming into the net, trying to use the court as much as I can,” Anisimova explained. She will face Jessica Pegula, who defeated Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Pegula is currently on a streak of seven consecutive WTA Tour-level semifinal appearances, dating back to the 2025 US Open – a run not seen since Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015-16.

While Pegula holds a 4-0 head-to-head record against Anisimova, three of those matches occurred before Anisimova’s recent rise to prominence, including reaching back-to-back Grand Slam finals. Their last encounter, also at the Australian Open just over three weeks ago, was a close contest, with Pegula prevailing 6-2, 7-6 (1). “Just played her in Australia – I’ve played her many times,” Pegula said. “We have had a lot of really close matches. It will be interesting to see.”

The semifinals promise compelling matchups as these players vie for a spot in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final. The outcomes will not only determine the tournament champion but also offer insights into the evolving dynamics within the WTA Tour.

What comes next is a highly anticipated Saturday final, where the winner will claim the title and further solidify their position in the competitive world of women’s tennis. Share your predictions and thoughts on the matches in the comments below.

Middlesbrough and Oxford United are poised to face off in a Championship match on February 21, 2026, at the Riverside Stadium. As the season progresses, this encounter holds significance for both teams, with Middlesbrough aiming to solidify their position in the upper ranks and Oxford United battling to climb away from the relegation zone. This article provides a preview of the match, analyzing team form and offering insights into potential betting outcomes.

Middlesbrough currently occupies a strong position in the Championship, sitting in second place as of February 20, 2026. Their season has been marked by a positive goal difference of 50-33, demonstrating both attacking prowess and defensive solidity. The team has secured 18 wins, alongside seven draws and seven losses. Recent form has been particularly impressive, with victories over Sheffield United (2-1), Norwich (1-0), Preston North End (4-0), and Stoke City (2-1), though a recent 3-1 defeat to Coventry City serves as a reminder of potential vulnerabilities.

In contrast, Oxford United finds themselves in a precarious position, currently second from bottom in the 23rd position. They have struggled for consistency, with a goal difference of 28-44. The team has managed only six wins, ten draws, and sixteen losses. Their recent form has been mixed, including a 0-0 draw with Coventry City, a surprising 2-1 victory over Leicester, but also defeats against Norwich (0-3), Sheffield United (1-3), and Birmingham (0-2).

Head-to-Head Record

Historically, Middlesbrough has dominated the head-to-head record against Oxford United. Across 29 previous meetings, Middlesbrough has emerged victorious 17 times, whereas Oxford United has won on five occasions, with seven matches ending in a draw. The most recent encounter between the two sides finished in a 1-1 draw. Bookmaker Ratings provides a detailed overview of the historical matchups.

Betting Odds and Predictions

Considering Middlesbrough’s strong league position and recent form, they are heavily favored to win this match. Betting odds reflect this expectation, with Middlesbrough listed at 1.4, Oxford United at 8.05, and a draw at 4.61 according to multiple sources including Bookmaker Ratings and Sport.ua.

Analysts predict a strong performance from Middlesbrough, with a forecast that they will score in both halves of the match. The expectation is that more goals will be scored in the second half than in the first. Given Oxford United’s defensive struggles and Middlesbrough’s attacking capabilities, this prediction appears well-founded.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 Moscow time on February 21, 2026, at the Riverside Stadium, as reported by Sports.ru. Fans can watch the game via Fonbet and various IPTV services, as well as through textual broadcasts on Sports.ru.

Looking ahead, the outcome of this match will be crucial for both teams as they navigate the remainder of the Championship season. Middlesbrough will aim to maintain their momentum and push for promotion, while Oxford United will desperately need points to avoid relegation. The performance of both teams in this fixture will undoubtedly set the tone for their respective campaigns in the weeks to come.

What are your predictions for the Middlesbrough vs. Oxford United match? Share your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with fellow football fans!

The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a network of timeshare fraud operations linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), identifying eight key individuals and 17 businesses allegedly involved in defrauding U.S. And Canadian citizens through the Kovay Gardens resort in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the sanctions, stating that the network obtained personal information from American property owners through corrupt employees and engaged in fraudulent schemes including fictitious sales, advance commission charges, identity theft, and revictimization tactics. The FBI estimates victims, many of whom are elderly, have suffered losses exceeding $300 million between 2019 and 2023.

Kovay Gardens serves as a central hub for these operations, according to the Treasury Department, channeling funds to the criminal organization. The sanctions block all property and interests in property of those designated that are subject to U.S. Jurisdiction, and prohibit U.S. Persons from engaging in transactions with them.

Alongside Kovay Gardens, the sanctions target a range of Mexican companies operating in tourism, real estate, finance, and business services. These include Administradora y Comercializadora del Mar, S.A. De C.V. (hotel reservation processing); Asesoría y Servicios Importadores, S.A. De C.V. (business services); Corporativo Controlador Explora, S.A. De C.V. (holding company); Solugas Soluciones en Gasolineras, S.A. De C.V. (fuel); Punto 54, S.A. De C.V. And High Land Park, S.A. De C.V. (both tourism); Colinas Proyectos y Construcciones, S.A. De C.V., Ornitorrinco Inmobiliaria, S.A. De C.V., VG Desarrollos De La Bahía, S.A. De C.V., and Deep Blue Desarrollos, S. De R.L. De C.V. And Deep Blue Servicios, S.A. De C.V. And Estrategia PVR, S. De R.L. De C.V. And Reef Administración Avanzada, S. De R.L. De C.V. (all real estate/financial services); Hotel Management International, LLC (a Texas-based entity); Club Deportivo de Formación al Futbol GMX, S. De R.L. De C.V.; Constructora Palacios PV, S.A. De C.V.; and Agencia de Servicios Turísticos Internacionales G8, S.A. De C.V. And Corporativo de Transferencias Internacionales de Bienes Raíces, S.A. De C.V.

The individuals sanctioned include Carlos Humberto Rivera Miramontes, identified as the founder and administrator of Kovay Gardens; Oscar Enrique Jiménez Tapia (“El Tagayas”), described as an operational leader in Bucerías, Nayarit; José Luis Gutiérrez Ochoa (“El Tolín”), a regional operator for the CJNG in Nayarit; Jonathan Faustino Ríos González (“Johnny Hood”), who allegedly operates call centers used in the fraud; and José Eduardo Palacios Rodríguez, who also operates fraud centers and manages sanctioned real estate companies. Additionally sanctioned were Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), the leader of CJNG; Audias Flores Silva (“El Jardinero”), a key CJNG operator; and Michael Ibarra Díaz, Jr., a partner of Rivera Miramontes.

According to the Treasury Department, El Mencho has consolidated a criminal structure with a presence in over 40 countries and a financial network including investments in tourism and real estate. Flores Silva, known as “El Jardinero,” is described as a dangerous operator involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. Rivera Miramontes allegedly facilitated the fraudulent sale of timeshares, sharing customer databases with CJNG-controlled call centers. Ibarra Díaz is accused of assisting in the capture of tourists and diverting funds to the cartel.

El Tagayas is reportedly responsible for kidnappings, extortion, and killings in the Bahia de Banderas area, even as El Tolín oversees the collection of funds from illicit activities and coordinates drug laboratories. Johnny Hood and José Eduardo Palacios Rodríguez are alleged to operate call centers used to contact victims and execute fraudulent schemes.

The OFAC action includes the blocking of assets and prohibits transactions with the designated individuals and entities. Any entity owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by a sanctioned party is also automatically blocked.