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sports Saturday 26 March 2022
Gauff and Rogers win, more seeded women fall at Miami Open

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) day included No. 17 Elena
— Seeded women contin- Rybakina and No. 21 Ve-
ue to have major struggles ronika Kudermetova.
at the Miami Open. Later Friday, No. 2 seed
Coco Gauff is one of the Iga Swiatek of Poland can
few exceptions. clinch the world's No. 1
The 14th-seeded Ameri- ranking if she defeats Vikto-
can, whose home is about rija Golubic of Switzerland
a 45-minute drive north in a second-round match.
from where she's playing It's Swiatek's first match of
this event, got past Wang the tournament; she, like all
Qiang of China 7-5, 6-4 seeds, got a bye into the
on Friday — avenging a second round.
first-round loss to her in the Swiatek would be assured
Australian Open earlier this of moving into the No. 1
year. spot because Ashleigh
"I think I hit a lot of good Barty, who had held the
shots on the run," Gauff top spot until her retirement
said. announcement earlier this
Gauff, who turned 18 ear- week, has asked to be re-
lier this month, made her moved from the next set of
WTA Tour debut three years rankings.
ago at the Miami Open. Coco Gauff returns a shot from Wang Qiang of China, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, The updated list will come
She reached the second Friday, March 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. out after the Miami Open
round that year, was oust- Associated Press concludes.
ed in the second round last "We're going to definitely
year and now is in the third en who were seeded going Another four seeded wom- round at Miami for just the miss Ash on tour," Gauff
round at Miami for the first into the tournament won't en have withdrawn with second time; she also did it said.
time. even be around for the first either injuries or ailments, in 2017. "Whether you play In men's second-round play
"I was just super motivated weekend, with four more meaning no more than 13 the same people week to Friday, No. 10 Cameron
today," Gauff said. — No. 10 Jelena Ostap- of the original 32 seeds will week or not, you've still got Norrie improved to 12-2 in
No. 16 Jessica Pegula felt enko of Latvia, No. 20 Elise get to the third round. to go out there and per- his past 14 outings by beat-
right at home too, even Mertens of Belgium, No. 24 Shelby Rogers of the U.S. form. I just tried to focus on ing fellow British player Jack
though the tournament is Sorana Cirstea of Romania, used 15 aces — and saved my side of the court and Draper in straight sets. No.
held on the grounds where and No. 29 Liudmila Sam- nine of the 10 break points did the best I could." 17 Pablo Carreno Busta
the NFL's Miami Dolphins sonova of Russia — getting she faced — to beat Osta- Madison Brengle of the and No. 31 Fabio Fognini
practice and play — and eliminated in second-round penko, 6-3, 7-6 (0). It was U.S. beat Samsonova 6-4, also prevailed.
her parents, Terry and Kim matches Friday. Rogers' second win over 6-0. China's Zhang Shuai Hugo Gaston knocked
Pegula, just happen to own Their losses meant 15 seed- Ostapenko this month, af- needed only 53 minutes to out No. 20 John Isner of
the Dolphins' AFC East rival ed women have now lost ter also topping her in a beat Cirstea, 6-1, 6-1. Linda the U.S., topping the 2018
Buffalo Bills. Pegula had their opening matches at second-round matchup at Fruhvirtova of the Czech Miami champion 7-6 (5),
little trouble beating 2018 the tournament, with 11 — Indian Wells. Republic topped Mertens 6-4. Isner had 22 aces and
Miami Open winner Sloane including top-seeded Ary- "There are no easy matches 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. was broken just once, but
Stephens 6-1, 6-4. na Sabalenka — getting out here," said Rogers, who Other seeded second- went 0 for 5 on his break
More than half of the wom- defeated Thursday alone. has now made the third round women's winners Fri- chances.q

AP source: Bills get initial OK for NFL $200M stadium loan

By JOHN WAWROW condition of anonymity to have an agreement in
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The because the decision was place in time to include
Buffalo Bills moved closer made privately. the state's share of fund-
to landing $200 million in The committee's approval ing in her budget, which
NFL funding to help finance was anticipated, and it will by law must be approved
their bid to build a new sta- require 24 of the NFL's 32 on April 1.Hochul previously
dium in which a majority of owners to formally OK the expressed confidence in
the projected $1.354 billion loan during a vote sched- reaching a deal with the
price tag is anticipated to uled to take place on Mon- Bills before the deadline.
be covered by taxpayer day. Even though she submit-
dollars. Under the G4 program ted a $216 billion budget in
A person with direct knowl- rules, Bills owners Terry and January, Hochul said there
edge of the decision told Kim Pegula would be re- are numerous options at
The Associated Press on Fri- quired to put up match- her disposal to draw upon
day that the NFL's stadium ing dollars which would in- the necessary money to
and finance committee crease the private funding fund the project.
backed the Bills' request for to at least $400 million for While the parties, which
what's called a G4 loan, by the new stadium. include Erie County, have The field is prepared at Highmark Stadium before an NFL football
game between the Buffalo Bills and the Carolina Panthers, Dec.
recommending the team's The committee's back- been closing in on an 19, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
application be present- ing opens a critical week agreement over the past Associated Press
ed at the league's owner for the proposed project month, what's unclear is
meetings for final approval. with New York Gov. Kathy how much public money the long-term future for the the NFL's lone team based
The person spoke on the Hochul facing a deadline will be required to secure small-market Bills, who are in New York.q