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Laureus Awards — Alcaraz, Sabalenka bag top honours; Yamal, Kroos also awarded  Tennis ruled the red carpet in Madrid on Monday as Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were ​crowned Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Awards.The ‌pair were honoured after glittering 2025 campaigns that saw them ​finish atop the women’s and men’s tennis rankings ⁠respectively.Spaniard Alcaraz, 22, reclaimed the year-end world number one spot after capturing two Grand Slam titles at the French Open and U.S. Open, underlining ‌his supremacy across surfaces.Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, meanwhile, stood alongside him in the winners’ circle in New York and also ‌reached the final in Australia and France, capping a ‌season ⁠of relentless consistency.
Full list of winners at Laureus Awards 2026:

Winners: World Sportsman of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz

World Sportswoman ​of the Year Award: Aryna

World Team of the Year Award: Paris St Germain

World Breakthrough of the ⁠Year Award: Lando Norris

World Comeback of the Year Award: Rory ⁠McIlroy

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Gabriel Araujo

World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: ‌Chloe Kim

World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal

Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos

Laureus Lifetime Achievement ​Award: Nadia Comaneci

Laureus Sport for Good Award: Futbol Mas
With her triumph, Sabalenka joinED a roll ⁠call of Laureus Sportswoman of the Year recipients from her sport including Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Naomi Osaka.In a first for the awards, ​the ceremony was hosted ‌by two athletes — both former Laureus winners — Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu. Last year’s top honours went to gymnast Simone Biles and pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis.MCILROY TAKES COMEBACK PRIZEElsewhere, Rory McIlroy claimed ‌the World Comeback of the Year Award after ending an ​11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters, a ⁠title he defended in 2026.Formula One’s Lando Norris was named World Breakthrough of the Year, while Paris St Germain took World Team ‌of the Year after a trophy haul in 2025 that included the French league and Cup plus their first Champions League crown.The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.The awards have been presented annually since ‌2000.Published on Apr 21, 2026  #Laureus #Awards #Alcaraz #Sabalenka #bag #top #honours #Yamal #Kroos #awarded

Laureus Awards — Alcaraz, Sabalenka bag top honours; Yamal, Kroos also awarded

Tennis ruled the red carpet in Madrid on Monday as Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were ​crowned Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Awards.

The ‌pair were honoured after glittering 2025 campaigns that saw them ​finish atop the women’s and men’s tennis rankings ⁠respectively.

Spaniard Alcaraz, 22, reclaimed the year-end world number one spot after capturing two Grand Slam titles at the French Open and U.S. Open, underlining ‌his supremacy across surfaces.

Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, meanwhile, stood alongside him in the winners’ circle in New York and also ‌reached the final in Australia and France, capping a ‌season ⁠of relentless consistency.

Full list of winners at Laureus Awards 2026:

Winners: World Sportsman of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz

World Sportswoman ​of the Year Award: Aryna

World Team of the Year Award: Paris St Germain

World Breakthrough of the ⁠Year Award: Lando Norris

World Comeback of the Year Award: Rory ⁠McIlroy

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Gabriel Araujo

World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: ‌Chloe Kim

World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal

Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos

Laureus Lifetime Achievement ​Award: Nadia Comaneci

Laureus Sport for Good Award: Futbol Mas

With her triumph, Sabalenka joinED a roll ⁠call of Laureus Sportswoman of the Year recipients from her sport including Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Naomi Osaka.

In a first for the awards, ​the ceremony was hosted ‌by two athletes — both former Laureus winners — Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu. Last year’s top honours went to gymnast Simone Biles and pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis.

MCILROY TAKES COMEBACK PRIZE

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy claimed ‌the World Comeback of the Year Award after ending an ​11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters, a ⁠title he defended in 2026.

Formula One’s Lando Norris was named World Breakthrough of the Year, while Paris St Germain took World Team ‌of the Year after a trophy haul in 2025 that included the French league and Cup plus their first Champions League crown.

The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

The awards have been presented annually since ‌2000.

Published on Apr 21, 2026

#Laureus #Awards #Alcaraz #Sabalenka #bag #top #honours #Yamal #Kroos #awarded

Tennis ruled the red carpet in Madrid on Monday as Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were ​crowned Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Awards.

The ‌pair were honoured after glittering 2025 campaigns that saw them ​finish atop the women’s and men’s tennis rankings ⁠respectively.

Spaniard Alcaraz, 22, reclaimed the year-end world number one spot after capturing two Grand Slam titles at the French Open and U.S. Open, underlining ‌his supremacy across surfaces.

Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, meanwhile, stood alongside him in the winners’ circle in New York and also ‌reached the final in Australia and France, capping a ‌season ⁠of relentless consistency.

Full list of winners at Laureus Awards 2026:

Winners: World Sportsman of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz

World Sportswoman ​of the Year Award: Aryna

World Team of the Year Award: Paris St Germain

World Breakthrough of the ⁠Year Award: Lando Norris

World Comeback of the Year Award: Rory ⁠McIlroy

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Gabriel Araujo

World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: ‌Chloe Kim

World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal

Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos

Laureus Lifetime Achievement ​Award: Nadia Comaneci

Laureus Sport for Good Award: Futbol Mas

With her triumph, Sabalenka joinED a roll ⁠call of Laureus Sportswoman of the Year recipients from her sport including Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Naomi Osaka.

In a first for the awards, ​the ceremony was hosted ‌by two athletes — both former Laureus winners — Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu. Last year’s top honours went to gymnast Simone Biles and pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis.

MCILROY TAKES COMEBACK PRIZE

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy claimed ‌the World Comeback of the Year Award after ending an ​11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters, a ⁠title he defended in 2026.

Formula One’s Lando Norris was named World Breakthrough of the Year, while Paris St Germain took World Team ‌of the Year after a trophy haul in 2025 that included the French league and Cup plus their first Champions League crown.

The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

The awards have been presented annually since ‌2000.

Published on Apr 21, 2026

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#Laureus #Awards #Alcaraz #Sabalenka #bag #top #honours #Yamal #Kroos #awarded

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Deadspin | Mitch Keller directs Pirates over Rays to clinch series win <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28767056.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28767056.jpg" alt="MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Pittsburgh Pirates" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 19, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) tags Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) out at second base on a steal attempt during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Mitch Keller pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates score a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Coming off a 13-inning loss on Saturday where Pittsburgh used six relievers, Keller (2-1) preserved some arms for the Pirates bullpen and helped his team take two of three games against the Rays, who entered the series having won six in a row.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Bryan Reynolds backed up the pitching with two hits and three RBI to lead Pittsburgh’s bats, while Spencer Horwitz and Nick Yorke each hit solo home runs.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Nick Gonzales had two hits and an RBI, and Jake Mangum had two hits and a run. The Pirates did it with the long ball and small ball as they recorded three bunt singles in a game for the first time since 1998.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>After picking up his first win in three years in his previous start, Rays starter Shane McClanahan (1-2) was unable to follow up that success, nor spare Tampa Bay’s own taxed bullpen a day after it used seven relievers. He allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out five over 4 1/3 innings on 90 pitches.</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>Keller picked up his second win in his fifth start of the season after not doing so last season until his 17th start. He struck out five and gave up five hits and did not issue a walk on 89 pitches.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Hunter Feduccia off Keller, which was one of Tampa Bay’s six hits overall. Jonny DeLuca followed a Richie Palacios double and then stole second to set up Feduccia’s go-ahead hit.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>The Pirates answered immediately when Joey Bart doubled and Billy Cook followed with a bunt single and stole second. Two batters later, Gonzales singled to drive in Bart, and Reynolds followed with a two-run single to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-2.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Right-hander Wilber Dotel was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and made his major league debut in the ninth. He allowed a solo home run to Junior Caminero. Then, he struck out Jonathan Aranda, and retired Yandy Diaz on a ground out and Cedric Mullins on a fly ball to center. The Pirates optioned reliever Cam Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-10"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Mitch #Keller #directs #Pirates #Rays #clinch #series #win

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Deadspin | Leon Draisaitl set to return as Oilers battle Ducks <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28458023.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28458023.jpg" alt="NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Edmonton Oilers could be getting Leon Draisaitl back at just the right time.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Draisaitl practiced for a second straight day on Sunday heading into Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round series against the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Draisaitl sustained a lower-body injury against the Nashville Predators on March 15 and missed the last 14 games of the regular season.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Draisaitl was well on his way to securing his fifth straight 100-point season before finishing with 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Draisaitl centered a line with Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen on Sunday, and was also on the first power-play unit.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>“We’ll see how it feels (on Monday), and then, yeah, we’ll make a call from there,” Draisaitl said. “There’s lots of things that go into it. Again, it’s going to take a little bit of time, but I’m going to find my ways to contribute and try to get to my best as quick as I can.”</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>The Oilers took two out of three against the Ducks in the regular season.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>They combined for 11 goals in each of the first two meetings before the Oilers won 4-2 on March 28 in Edmonton. The victory came in the middle of a five-game winning streak that helped the Oilers leapfrog the Ducks for second place in the Pacific Division and earn them home-ice advantage for the series.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-9"> <p>“The push we had the last month or so, we’ve played a lot better,” Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “We had some big guys go down, and guys come in and fill those spots. The guys in here feel as good as they have all year, going into the playoffs, which absolutely can help our group.”</p> </section> <section id="section-10"> <p>The Oilers are aware the Ducks have solid goaltending and high-end skill up front that prefers to to play at a fast pace.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>“That’s not how we want to play,” Edmonton center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “We want to play tight defensively, and make things really difficult for them and wait for our chances.”</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>While the Ducks haven’t been to the playoffs in eight years, they do have several veterans with playoff experience.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Alex Killorn won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020-21, John Carlson lifted the Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018, Chris Kreider played in the Stanley Cup Finals with the New York Rangers in 2014, Mikael Granlund advanced to the Western Conference finals with the Dallas Stars last season, and Jacob Trouba has appeared in 73 playoff games during his career.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>And then there’s coach Joel Quenneville, who guided the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles from 2010-15.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>“He calms you a little bit knowing he’s been there, and you can just see it on his face,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said. “He’s won a lot of hockey games, a lot of playoff hockey games. He’s won Cups, and just to see his excitement (at practice on Saturday). Like, you can tell. It’s like Christmas to him, just being able to game plan for one team and just the whole playoff format and the atmosphere. And just seeing him excited, it just shows you how this is what you really play hockey for.”</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>Quenneville said he gets the most excited for the first game of the season and the first playoff game.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>“The best part of winning the Cup is trying to win the Cup, so that starts when they drop the puck on the first game,” Quenneville said.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-18"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Leon #Draisaitl #set #return #Oilers #battle #Ducks

INDIANAPOLIS — Even before Caitlin Clark took the floor on Friday, she had the feeling something special was in store. If nothing else, she was trying to will it into existence.

Individually, she had struggled to find a rhythm since returning from injury. As a team, the Fever needed a big night from their superstar with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston out.

But even by Clark’s lofty standards, Friday was something special.

Clark tallied a franchise record 45 points to go along with 10 assists, becoming the first player in WNBA history with a 40-10 game, to lead the Fever to a dramatic 110-107 win over the Seattle Storm.

“I feel like you just have to believe you’re going to have those types of nights and you have to visualize having those types of nights and I feel like that’s what I did,” Clark said. “It’s not always going to go your way…I know all the time and the work that I’ve put in and people believe in me and, more than anything, I believe in myself.

“You just got to dig your feet in a little bit and, when it’s not going your way, nobody cares. Like you find a way to make it better and find a way to help your team win and make this team better and I feel like that’s what I always try to do.”

When her team needed her most on Friday, Clark dug in for a fourth quarter masterpiece. Not only did she finish with 16 points in the frame, but she scored or assisted on 17 of the final 19 points for Indiana. No shot was bigger, though, than her stepback three with 39 seconds left to put the Fever up 105-102, giving them a lead they would not relinquish.

“It’s incredible,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “It’s special. She does things that we haven’t seen…In the moment, sometimes it’s surreal to see. Heck, I looked down at the stat sheet at the end of the game and it’s like, ‘Holy s—, 45 [points] and 10 [assists].’ I mean, it’s just incredible.”

After starting the season hot, things haven’t been smooth sailing for Clark. A back injury has plagued her in recent weeks, limiting her to just four games since June 24. For most of those outings, she’s looked like someone searching for her rhythm.

But Friday felt different from the jump. Not only did Clark sense it, but her coach could see it, too.

“She seemed lighter,” White said of Clark pregame. “She seemed positive. She seemed like she was bouncy. I think she felt good. I think every day we’ve seen a little bit more of it.”

Ironically, it was Clark’s backcourt mate who looked destined for the big night in the first quarter. Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 of her 30 points in the opening frame, helping the Fever to an early double-digit lead. In another bit of history from the night, Clark and Mitchell’s 75 combined points are the most by a duo in franchise history.

It wasn’t until the second quarter that Clark really found her groove, doing so predominantly at the free throw line, helping her to 14 points in the period. The Fever desperately needed it as the Storm pulled themselves back into the game to trail by just three at the break.

Seattle only kept coming in the second half and eventually built up an eight-point lead in the fourth with 5:23 remaining. However, that became the turning point for both Clark and the Fever as they steadily chipped away at the deficit.

Clark showed off her growing array of ways to get buckets, mixing mid-range jumpers with drives to the basket and her patented stepback jumper. A 3-pointer with 2:23 gave her a career-high 38 points and closed the deficit to one. A few possessions later, Clark found Monique Billings for an and-one layup with 1:11 left to tie the game.

The sequence of the night, though, came shortly after.

Following a Fever turnover in a tie game with just under a minute remaining, Clark raced back on the fastbreak to strip Flau’jae Johnson and win back possession. She followed that up with the biggest shot of the game, turning a broken play into the go-ahead 3-pointer to blow the roof off the arena.

“I just think that when she’s really in a flow, [she] reads the game as good, if not better than anybody,” White said. “I think she’s grown into taking what the defense gives her and we always know she has the ability to make big shots and she did all of that tonight.”

There’s never a bad time for a 45-point night, but this could hardly come at a better one for Clark. Limited by injury and a minutes restriction, Clark hadn’t found a groove since returning to the lineup on July 8. Finding her rhythm again, then, was a positive in itself on Friday.

The 45 points? A welcome bonus.

“It’s tough when you come back from injury,” White added. “Your body feels different. Mentally, you want it to happen so badly. Sometimes you second-guess yourself and that’s part of it. Rhythm, timing, all the things that happen when you haven’t played for a little while. So it was huge. It was big time for her and for us.”

Funnily enough, White noted pregame that Clark was still on a minutes restriction that had hovered right at 25. That number came and went in the fourth quarter without a hint of Clark coming off the floor.

Nothing was taking her out of that game. Not on a night as special as Friday.

“Steph knows better than that,” Clark joked with a smile. “Trainers know better than that. They would get an earful. But I told Steph at halftime, like I felt really good and I didn’t want to lose this game…I’ve spent a ton of time on [my body] and I trust the people around me that have really helped me. I always find confidence in that, so I know I’m doing all the right things and there’s no way I was ever coming out of the game in the 4th quarter.

“It didn’t matter. I would play with one leg.”

#Caitlin #Clark #rewrites #record #books #historic #45point #outing">Caitlin Clark rewrites record books with historic 45-point outing  INDIANAPOLIS — Even before Caitlin Clark took the floor on Friday, she had the feeling something special was in store. If nothing else, she was trying to will it into existence.Individually, she had struggled to find a rhythm since returning from injury. As a team, the Fever needed a big night from their superstar with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston out.But even by Clark’s lofty standards, Friday was something special.Clark tallied a franchise record 45 points to go along with 10 assists, becoming the first player in WNBA history with a 40-10 game, to lead the Fever to a dramatic 110-107 win over the Seattle Storm.“I feel like you just have to believe you’re going to have those types of nights and you have to visualize having those types of nights and I feel like that’s what I did,” Clark said. “It’s not always going to go your way…I know all the time and the work that I’ve put in and people believe in me and, more than anything, I believe in myself.“You just got to dig your feet in a little bit and, when it’s not going your way, nobody cares. Like you find a way to make it better and find a way to help your team win and make this team better and I feel like that’s what I always try to do.”When her team needed her most on Friday, Clark dug in for a fourth quarter masterpiece. Not only did she finish with 16 points in the frame, but she scored or assisted on 17 of the final 19 points for Indiana. No shot was bigger, though, than her stepback three with 39 seconds left to put the Fever up 105-102, giving them a lead they would not relinquish.“It’s incredible,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “It’s special. She does things that we haven’t seen…In the moment, sometimes it’s surreal to see. Heck, I looked down at the stat sheet at the end of the game and it’s like, ‘Holy s—, 45 [points] and 10 [assists].’ I mean, it’s just incredible.”After starting the season hot, things haven’t been smooth sailing for Clark. A back injury has plagued her in recent weeks, limiting her to just four games since June 24. For most of those outings, she’s looked like someone searching for her rhythm.But Friday felt different from the jump. Not only did Clark sense it, but her coach could see it, too.“She seemed lighter,” White said of Clark pregame. “She seemed positive. She seemed like she was bouncy. I think she felt good. I think every day we’ve seen a little bit more of it.”Ironically, it was Clark’s backcourt mate who looked destined for the big night in the first quarter. Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 of her 30 points in the opening frame, helping the Fever to an early double-digit lead. In another bit of history from the night, Clark and Mitchell’s 75 combined points are the most by a duo in franchise history.It wasn’t until the second quarter that Clark really found her groove, doing so predominantly at the free throw line, helping her to 14 points in the period. The Fever desperately needed it as the Storm pulled themselves back into the game to trail by just three at the break.Seattle only kept coming in the second half and eventually built up an eight-point lead in the fourth with 5:23 remaining. However, that became the turning point for both Clark and the Fever as they steadily chipped away at the deficit.Clark showed off her growing array of ways to get buckets, mixing mid-range jumpers with drives to the basket and her patented stepback jumper. A 3-pointer with 2:23 gave her a career-high 38 points and closed the deficit to one. A few possessions later, Clark found Monique Billings for an and-one layup with 1:11 left to tie the game.The sequence of the night, though, came shortly after.Following a Fever turnover in a tie game with just under a minute remaining, Clark raced back on the fastbreak to strip Flau’jae Johnson and win back possession. She followed that up with the biggest shot of the game, turning a broken play into the go-ahead 3-pointer to blow the roof off the arena.“I just think that when she’s really in a flow, [she] reads the game as good, if not better than anybody,” White said. “I think she’s grown into taking what the defense gives her and we always know she has the ability to make big shots and she did all of that tonight.”There’s never a bad time for a 45-point night, but this could hardly come at a better one for Clark. Limited by injury and a minutes restriction, Clark hadn’t found a groove since returning to the lineup on July 8. Finding her rhythm again, then, was a positive in itself on Friday.The 45 points? A welcome bonus.“It’s tough when you come back from injury,” White added. “Your body feels different. Mentally, you want it to happen so badly. Sometimes you second-guess yourself and that’s part of it. Rhythm, timing, all the things that happen when you haven’t played for a little while. So it was huge. It was big time for her and for us.”Funnily enough, White noted pregame that Clark was still on a minutes restriction that had hovered right at 25. That number came and went in the fourth quarter without a hint of Clark coming off the floor.Nothing was taking her out of that game. Not on a night as special as Friday.“Steph knows better than that,” Clark joked with a smile. “Trainers know better than that. They would get an earful. But I told Steph at halftime, like I felt really good and I didn’t want to lose this game…I’ve spent a ton of time on [my body] and I trust the people around me that have really helped me. I always find confidence in that, so I know I’m doing all the right things and there’s no way I was ever coming out of the game in the 4th quarter.“It didn’t matter. I would play with one leg.”  #Caitlin #Clark #rewrites #record #books #historic #45point #outing

India’s P.V. Sindhu will take on home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in the Japan Open 2026 final on Sunday.

Sindhu entered the final after beating China’s Chen Yufei in the semifinals, while Yamaguchi overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other last-four clash.

P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head (Sindhu leads 15-14)

  • 2026: Australian Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 22-20, 21-12
  • 2026: Thailand Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-18, 21-15
  • 2026: Malaysia Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11
  • 2025: Badminton Asia Championships (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-12, 16-21, 21-16
  • 2023: Canada Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-14, 21-15
  • 2023: Singapore Open (R32) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-19, 21-17
  • 2022: Thailand Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 20-22, 21-13
  • 2022: Badminton Asia Championships (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 13-21, 21-19, 21-16
  • 2021: World Tour Finals (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 15-21, 21-19
  • 2021: Indonesia Masters (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-13, 21-9
  • 2021: Tokyo Olympics (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-13, 22-20
  • 2021: All England Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-16, 16-21, 19-21
  • 2019: World Tour Finals (Group) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-18, 21-8
  • 2019: Japan Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-15
  • 2019: Indonesia Open (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-15, 21-16
  • 2018: World Tour Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 24-22, 21-15
  • 2018: Asian Games (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-17, 15-21, 21-10
  • 2018: Asian Games (Team QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-19
  • 2018: World Championships (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-16, 24-22
  • 2018: All England Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-19, 21-18
  • 2018: Asia Team Championships (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-19, 21-15
  • 2017: World Superseries Finals (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 15-21, 21-12, 21-19
  • 2017: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-9, 21-13
  • 2017: Hong Kong Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-12, 21-19
  • 2017: French Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 14-21, 9-21
  • 2016: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 12-21, 21-8, 21-15
  • 2016: Uber Cup (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11, 21-18
  • 2015: Macau Open (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-8, 15-21, 21-16
  • 2013: Japan Open (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 6-21, 17-21

While Sindhu holds a minor lead in head-to-head numbers against Yamaguchi, the Japanese shuttler has dominated their battle in recent years.

Since 2023, the pair have clashed six times, with Yamaguchi winning five of those matches. Sindhu’s only win in this spell came in the Malaysian Open earlier this year after Yamaguchi had to retire due to an injury.

Numbers to watch out for before the final

2026 Win-Loss Record:

P.V. Sindhu: 18–9

Akane Yamaguchi: 33–6

BWF World Ranking:

P.V. Sindhu: 10

Akane Yamaguchi: 3

HSBC Race to Guangzhou Ranking:

P.V. Sindhu: 14

Akane Yamaguchi: 3

Published on Jul 18, 2026

#P.V #Sindhu #Akane #Yamaguchi #headtohead #Complete #record #ahead #Japan #Open #final">P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head: Complete record ahead of Japan Open 2026 final  India’s P.V. Sindhu will take on home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in the Japan Open 2026 final on Sunday.Sindhu entered the final after beating China’s Chen Yufei in the semifinals, while Yamaguchi overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other last-four clash.P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head (Sindhu leads 15-14)
                                                        2026: Australian Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 22-20, 21-12                    
                                                        2026: Thailand Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-18, 21-15                    
                                                        2026: Malaysia Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11                    
                                                        2025: Badminton Asia Championships (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-12, 16-21, 21-16                    
                                                        2023: Canada Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-14, 21-15                    
                                                        2023: Singapore Open (R32) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-19, 21-17                    
                                                        2022: Thailand Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 20-22, 21-13                    
                                                        2022: Badminton Asia Championships (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 13-21, 21-19, 21-16                    
                                                        2021: World Tour Finals (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 15-21, 21-19                    
                                                        2021: Indonesia Masters (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-13, 21-9                    
                                                        2021: Tokyo Olympics (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-13, 22-20                    
                                                        2021: All England Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-16, 16-21, 19-21                    
                                                        2019: World Tour Finals (Group) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-18, 21-8                    
                                                        2019: Japan Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-15                    
                                                        2019: Indonesia Open (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-15, 21-16                    
                                                        2018: World Tour Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 24-22, 21-15                    
                                                        2018: Asian Games (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-17, 15-21, 21-10                    
                                                        2018: Asian Games (Team QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-19                    
                                                        2018: World Championships (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-16, 24-22                    
                                                        2018: All England Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-19, 21-18                    
                                                        2018: Asia Team Championships (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-19, 21-15                    
                                                        2017: World Superseries Finals (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 15-21, 21-12, 21-19                    
                                                        2017: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-9, 21-13                    
                                                        2017: Hong Kong Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-12, 21-19                    
                                                        2017: French Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 14-21, 9-21                    
                                                        2016: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 12-21, 21-8, 21-15                    
                                                        2016: Uber Cup (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11, 21-18                    
                                                        2015: Macau Open (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-8, 15-21, 21-16                    
                                                        2013: Japan Open (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 6-21, 17-21                    While Sindhu holds a minor lead in head-to-head numbers against Yamaguchi, the Japanese shuttler has dominated their battle in recent years.Since 2023, the pair have clashed six times, with Yamaguchi winning five of those matches. Sindhu’s only win in this spell came in the Malaysian Open earlier this year after Yamaguchi had to retire due to an injury.
Numbers to watch out for before the final
2026 Win-Loss Record:
P.V. Sindhu: 18–9

Akane Yamaguchi: 33–6
BWF World Ranking:
P.V. Sindhu: 10

Akane Yamaguchi: 3
HSBC Race to Guangzhou Ranking:
P.V. Sindhu: 14

Akane Yamaguchi: 3
Published on Jul 18, 2026  #P.V #Sindhu #Akane #Yamaguchi #headtohead #Complete #record #ahead #Japan #Open #final

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