Novak Djokovic has beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Finals of the Australian Open 2023. He equals the record with Rafael Nadal of winning Most Grand Slam Titles. This is his 10th AO Grand Slam Title. With this, he also returned to No.1 in ATP World Rankings.
Novak Djokovic defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets (7-5, 6-1, 6-2) to qualify for the Final on Friday. everything was going according to plan for him. He proved once again his greatness in the Final by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets (6-3, 7-6, 7-6) to equal the title tally with Nadal.
The Spanish Superstar Rafael Nadal Parera is one of the Greatest Players in Men's Tennis History. Nadal has won a record-tying 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles. He has won 92 ATP singles titles, including 36 Masters titles, with 63 of these on clay courts. Nadal is one of only two men to complete the Career Golden Slam in singles. By the age of 24 years, 3 months, and 10 days, Nadal had won all four majors in singles (Career Grand Slam) and the Olympic singles gold medal (Career Golden Slam) in his career and is the youngest player to achieve both feats in the Open Era.
2. Novak Djokovic | 22 Grand Slam Titles
Novak Djokovic Image - Australian Open
Novak Djokovic returned to No.1 in ATP World Rankings by winning his 22nd Gran Slam Title. He has won a record 10 Australian Open titles. Overall, he has won 93 ATP singles titles, which include a record 66 Big Titles and a record 38 Masters titles. He is the second male player in history after Federer to win 3 Grand Slam titles in three different seasons (2011, 2015, and 2021). He is the first man in the Open Era to achieve a double Career Grand Slam in singles and the only player to complete the Career Golden Masters in singles on the ATP Tour, which he has done twice.
Swiss great Roger Federer is one of the most decorated men's tennis stars. Federer won his first-ever grand slam title in 2003 & became the first men's singles player to reach the milestone of 20 grand slam titles and also eclipsed the record of 14 grand slams held by Pete Sampras during this quest. He has won 6 AO Open, 1 french Open, 8 Wimbledon & 5 U.S Open Titles. Federer won his last Grand Slam Title in 2018. He announced his retirement in 2022.
4. Pete Sampras | 14 Grand Slam Titles
Pete Sampras Image - Hindustan Times
Sampras won 14 major singles titles during his career, which was an all-time record at the time of his retirement: a then-record seven Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens, and a joint Open Era record of five US Open titles. He won 64 singles titles in total. He was the first to reach world No 1.
Roy Emerson was a Champion whose career bridged the amateur and Open eras. The Aussie great won his 12th Grand Slam singles title at the French Open Championship against countryman Tony Roche. His haul of 28 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 doubles) is a record for men's tennis. Emerson is also the only man to win singles and doubles titles in all four majors.
From one man unbelievably acquiring 13 French Open titles to the rise of numerous unexpected winners, the event has seen it all. Let us have a trip to memory lane and look at the female French Open winners from the Last 10 years.
The French Open, often known as Roland-Garros, is an annual tennis tournament held at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris. The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the year. It is the only Grand Slam played on clay court, making it one of the most anticipated tennis events of the year. It is thought to be one of the most arduous grand slams to win, as the best-of-five-sets format on clay makes the battle extremely exhausting, and only the fittest players can emerge as the French Open Winners.
However, during its 131 years of reigning, the French Open has been a witness of several unexpected moments. From one man unbelievably acquiring 13 French Open titles to the rise of numerous unexpected winners, the event has seen it all. Let us have a trip to memory lane and look at the female French Open winners from the Last 10 years.
22-Year-old Garbine Muguruza stunned tennis fans when she upset Serena Williams at the 2016 French Open. As a result, the American's dream to win a 22nd Grand Slam singles title and tie Steffi Graf's Open-era record was dashed.
Nevertheless, Muguruza upset the former world number 1 in straight sets(7–5, 6–4) to win her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open. Thereafter, Muguruza became the first Spanish woman to win the championship since Arantxa Sánchez Vicario defeated Monica Seles in the final in 1998.
2. French Open 2017 Winner- Jeļena Ostapenko
Jelena Ostapenko won her maiden Grand Slam championship as a professional in the 2017 French Open women's final. She hushed the naysayers and demonstrated that she belongs amongst stars by becoming the first unseeded player to win at Roland Garros.
However, she fought back to win 6-4, 6-3 after losing the first set 4-6 to former No. 3 Simona Halep. Thus, Ostapenko became the youngest first-time Grand Slam champion since Svetlana Kuznetsova won the US Open at the age of 19 in 2004.
3. French Open 2018 Winner- Simona Halep
Halep seemed practically helpless against Sloane Stephens in the opening set of the French Open Women's singles final, trailing 3-6, 0-2 at one point. But in the second set, Halep turned up the heat with a ferocity that helped her capture her maiden Grand Slam title with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory. After losing at the Australian Open, Halep not only quenched her thirst, but she also became the first Romanian to win a Grand Slam since 1978.
4. French Open 2019 Winner- Ashleigh Barty
Ashleigh Barty, a three-time grand slam champion, became the first Australian women's singles player to win the French Open since Margaret Court in 1973. In a one-sided final, she thrashed Marketa Vondrousova, a Czech player, 6-1, 6-3. As a result, the Aussie earned the prestigious trophy and effectively carried her country's expectations on her shoulders.
5. French Open 2020 Winner- Iga Świątek
Iga Swiatek, a 19-year-old tennis sensation, won the 2020 French Open in straight sets, crowning herself as the sport's latest superstar. The result was never in doubt, as the girl appeared to be completely unfazed throughout the game, and she triumphed in just one hour and 24 minutes. Nonetheless, with this victory by her side, Swiatek became the first Pole to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Unseeded Barbora Krejcikova won her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open 2021, defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia to become the first Czech woman to be awarded the title in 40 years. However, Krejcikova, playing just her fifth main draw in a Slams singles event, triumphed 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 for a second career title. As a result, The champion followed in the footsteps of compatriot Hana Mandlikova, who won the title in 1981 in Paris.
7. French Open 2022 winner- Iga Swiatek
World Number One Iga Swiatek of Poland won the French Open 2022 Women's Singles Title by beating US teenager Coco Gauf. The 21-year-old clinched her second title in three years in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 over Gauff. In addition, she is the youngest player ranked in the top ten. Iga was the 2020 French Open champion and is the first player representing Poland to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Iga Swiatek defeated Karolína Muchová to win the French Open 2023 title. Iga rewrote the history books with her third French Open title. She became only the second women's player to defend the Roland Garros title this century after Justine Henin did it in 2006. The 22-year-old also became the youngest player to win the Claycourt Major in consecutive years since Monica Seles (19) in 1992. She is also the youngest to win four Grand Slams since Serena Williams (20) in 2002.
9. French Open 2024 winner- Iga Swaitek
Iga Swiatek achieved the rare feat of winning a third successive French Open women's title and fourth overall with a comprehensive victory over Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini. Poland’s Swiatek continued her recent dominance on the Roland Garros clay with a 6-2 6-1 win against first-time major finalist Paolini.
It was Swiatek's fifth Grand Slam singles title. In open-era women’s tennis, only Evert and Graf (6) have won more Roland Garros titles than her, and she becomes the first woman since Henin in 2007 to triumph thrice in a row in Paris. She also became the only woman apart from Serena Williams to do the Madrid-Rome-Paris triple – winning all three of the most important clay court events on the calendar in the same year.
10. French Open 2025 winner- Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff claimed her first French Open title and second career grand slam singles title, coming from behind to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in a thrilling French Open 2025 women’s final.
The 21-year-old’s win, a repeat of her 2023 US Open victory, means she is the first American since Serena Williams in 2015 to triumph at Roland Garros, and only the third this century. She is also the youngest American to lift the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup since Serena Williams did so in 2002.
Sabalenka had won three of the last eight majors and was the most successful singles player on the women's circuit in 2025 prior to Gauff's burst on Saturday. Gauff won 11 of the final 17 games of the match, showcasing some of the best tennis she's played in her career on the biggest stage.
From one man unbelievably acquiring 13 French Open titles to the rise of numerous unexpected champions, the event has seen it all. Let us have a trip to memory lane and look at the male French Open winners from the Last 10 years.
The French Open, often known as Roland-Garros, is an annual tennis tournament held at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris. The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the year. It is the only Grand Slam played on clay court, making it one of the most anticipated tennis events of the year. It is thought to be one of the most arduous grand slams to win, as the best-of-five-sets format on clay makes the battle extremely exhausting, and only the fittest can win. However, during its 131 years of reigning, the French Open has been a witness of several unexpected moments. From one man unbelievably acquiring 13 French Open titles to the rise of numerous unexpected champions, the event has seen it all. Let us have a trip to memory lane and look at the male French Open winners from the Last 10 years.
Rafael Nadal, then 9-time French Open champion, resigned from the event in 2016 after consecutive straight-set triumphs and great form due to a significant wrist injury. Top seed Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, had a number of his strongest rivals eliminated or debilitated at the Open. With the 'King of Clay' out of the competition, Djokovic seemed to have only Andy Murray to contend with, who was floundering against far lower-ranked opponents. Furthermore, the Serbian did not waste this rare opportunity and performed admirably to come back from a set down to eliminate Andy Murray. As a result of his victory, he won his maiden French Open title, and he became the first man since 1969 to retain all four Grand Slam titles in a row.
2. French Open 2017 winner: Rafael Nadal
Nadal accomplished 'La Decima'( It means The Tenth in Spanish) with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 annihilation of Stan Wawrinka in the final, giving him a perfect ten at Roland Garros that year. Not just because of the title but the way he sailed through seven rounds, solidified his position as the best clay-courter of all time. On his approach to the triumph, the Mallorcan did not drop a single set and only lost 35 games, the fewest he has ever lost when claiming a Grand Slam title.
The Spaniard's triumph at Roland Garros in 2018 handed him 17 Grand Slam championships in his career and expanded his record for most Grand Slam titles in a single major. Furthermore, He earned this honour by thrashing Dominic Thiem in straight sets(6–4, 6–3, 6–2). Nonetheless, At that time, on the clay at Roland Garros, Nadal won 11 trophies, tying the legendary Margaret Court for the most titles at a single Grand Slam and again cementing his position as the 'King of Clay.'
4. French Open 2019 winner: Rafael Nadal
Coming into the final, the Spaniard had only dropped one set and was coming off a convincing semi-final triumph against Roger Federer. His opponent, Dominic Thiem, on the other hand, was hoping to build on his win over Novak Djokovic, as well as his straight-sets victory over Nadal in the Barcelona Open semi-final, to reach his second Grand Slam final. Thiem was on the verge of achieving his dreams by claiming the second set, however, an inexorable Nadal bounced back in a poised fashion and extended his record-breaking reign at Roland-Garros by winning a 12th men's singles title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory.
5. French Open 2020 winner: Rafael Nadal
Tennis fans were drooling at the idea of another dramatic battle in one of the sport's most historical rivalries, but it turned out to be one of the most one-sided Grand Slam finals in the Open era. Although, The odds were stacked against the Serbian in his match against the 34-year-old Nadal, who was attempting to win his 13th title on the red clay courts of Roland Garros. However, putting a stop to the speculations, the 'King of Clay' delivered one of the most humiliating defeats on great rival Novak Djokovic, demolishing the world number one 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to claim a record-tying 20th Grand Slam men's singles title.
Djokovic spun up some more magic on the court less than 48 hours after defeating 13-time champion Rafael Nadal in one of the best tennis knockdowns. However, after falling behind two sets to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece—a 22-year-old who was playing in his first Grand Slam final—Djokovic rebounded to win in five games, 6–7 (8), 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4. Eventually, he was richly compensated for his spectacular comeback by winning the French Open 2021, his second in Paris and the 19th Grand Slam title.
The "King of Clay" Rafael Nadal lived up to his title once again, overwhelming Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to win the French Open 2022 title. It was his record-extending 14th French Open title and record-extending 22nd major title overall. It marked the first time in his career that he won the Australian Open and the French Open in the same calendar year. Nadal also became the third man to defeat four top 10 players en route to a major title since the introduction of ATP rankings in 1973.
8. French Open 2023 winner: Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic won his men's-record 23rd Grand Slam title with a victory over Casper Ruud in French Open 2023 Final. Djokovic broke a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most major singles trophies in the history of men's tennis. The Serb moves into the outright lead of men's majors ahead of Rafael Nadal. He also becomes the first man to win all four majors at least three times. By winning his 23rd Slam title at the French Open beating Norwegian world No. 4 Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in the final. In addition, Djokovic broke away from Rafael Nadal in the men's pecking order. Joining Serena Williams on the most Slam count by any player in the Open Era, he also became the first man to win all the Majors at least thrice.
The 21-year-old Spaniard became the youngest man to win a major across all three tennis surfaces, claiming the French Open singles crown. He toppled Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in five sets, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Carlos Alcaraz has roared to a perfect 3-0 in major finals, adding his win in Paris on clay to his US Open triumph (hard court) in 2022 and Wimbledon (grass) last year.
Alcaraz also joins Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal as the only man to win a Roland-Garros title under the age of 22 since the year 2000 (Nadal did so 2005-07).
10. French Open 2025 winner: Carlos Alcaraz
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from two sets down, saving three championship points on the way to beat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in an incredible French Open 2025 men's singles final. It was the longest final in tournament history (5 hours, 29 minutes) in the Open Era.
This was the second longest grand slam final in the Open Era; Alcaraz is just the sixth player ever to come back from two sets down to win a French Open final; and the Spaniard is also the youngest player to win two straight men’s singles titles in Paris since Nadal, the King of Clay, won four in a row between 2005 and 2008.
Alcaraz has now won his fifth major title aged 22 years, one month and three days old, the exact same age his hero Rafael Nadal was when he won his fifth at Wimbledon in 2008.
Novak Djokovic is only 8 matches away to break Roger Federer’s men’s singles milestone. Let's take a look at the top 10 players who have the records of most matches played in Grand Slam in the Open Era.
Novak Djokovic has now played 430 Grand Slam matches, taking sole possession of the record for the most singles matches played in the Open Era, ahead of Federer (429) and Serena Williams (423). No other player has reached 400 matches. Let's take a look at the top 10 players who have the records of most matches played in Grand Slam in the Open Era.
Stan Wawrinka, who turned professional in 2002, played a total of 225 Grand Slam matches. He is a three-time Grand Slam champion and appeared in 50-straight Grand Slams before missing the 2017 US Open with two season-ending left knee surgeries. He is one of just three players to have defeated Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal at Grand Slams. Wawrinka reached four Grand Slam singles finals in his career to date, winning three, the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open; each time he defeated the reigning world No. 1 in the championship match (Rafael Nadal once and Novak Djokovic twice, respectively).
9. Stefan Edberg | 225
Swede Edberg competed in only 225 Grand Slam matches and he won 178 of those. Edberg, who turned professional in 1983 and retired in 1996, won two Wimbledon titles, two US Open trophies and two Australian Open titles during his 13-year career. In total he played 1,071 career matches for a win-loss record of 801–270 (74.8%)
8. Pete Sampras | 241
Pete Sampras has competed in 241 matches at Grand Slam tournaments. He compiled a 762-222 career singles record (77.4%) putting him in the top-10 all-time for the Open Era. Sampras captured 64 tour singles titles in 265 overall tournaments (was also a finalist in 24 tournaments). At the age of 19 years and 28 days, Sampras became the youngest US Open men’s singles champion in history, defeating his career-rival Andre Agassi.
Andy Murray has played 257 Major matches (200-57) from the 1,001 total singles matches he has competed in (739-262). Among the four Grand Slam events, the Brit has played the most matches at Wimbledon (74), where he has a 61-13 record.
6. Ivan Lendl | 271
Ivan Lendl competed in 271 Grand Slam matches (222-49) from the 1,340 matches tour-level matches he played in total (1,068-242). The Czech-American contested more matches at the US Open (86) than any other Grand Slam and compiled a 73-13 record at Flushing Meadows.
5. Andre Agassi | 277
Andre Agassi contested 1,144 singles matches overall in his career (870-274), with 277 of these being played at Grand Slam events (224-53). Among the four Majors, the American played the most matches at the US Open (98), where he accumulated a 79-19 record.
Jimmy Connors played an ATP record 1,557 matches in his career (1,274-283), with 282 of these coming at Majors (233-49). The American contested more matches at the US Open (115) than any other Grand Slam and amassed a 98-17 record at the New York showpiece.
3. Rafael Nadal | 358
Rafael Nadal has competed in 358 matches at Grand Slam tournaments (314-44) from the 1,300 matches he has played in total (1,075-225). The Spaniard holds a 112-4 record at Roland Garros, where he has played more matches than at any other tournament.
Roger Federer is the legendary player who had the record of most matches played in Grand Slam but Djokovic beat him recently. He played 1,526 matches in total in his career (1,251-275), with 429 of his matches coming at Grand Slam events (369-60). The Swiss earned over 100 victories at both Wimbledon (105-14) and the Australian Open (102-15), while he also amassed 89-14 and 73-17 records at the US Open and Roland Garros respectively.
1. Novak Djokovic | 430
Following his third round win at Australian Open 2025, Novak Djokovic surpassed his great rival Roger Federer. Djokovic has contested 430* matches at Majors (371-49) from 1,325 matches overall (1,106-219). The Serbian has won more than 90 matches at the French Open (96-16), the Australian Open (94-9), and Wimbledon (93-11), while he holds a 88-13 US Open record.
Laureus World Sports Awards 2025: Simone Biles, Mondo Duplantis, Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal win awards
Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Mondo Duplantis, Tom Pidcock, Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid and Jijang Yuan were the winners in the Laureus World Sports Awards 2025
Mondo Duplantis won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award
Madrid became the capital city of sport tonight as the Laureus World Sports Awards celebrated its 25th anniversary by gathering the greatest athletes not only of the past 12 months, but of the 21st Century.
Simone Biles andRebecca Andrade – friends, rivals and Olympic champions from the world of gymnastics – were both winners here; both sides of Spanish football’s great duopoly were represented on the winners’ podium, asReal Madrid and Barcelona’sLamine Yamal were honoured; and Olympic and Paralympic heroes includingMondoDuplantis,Tom Pidcock andJijang Yuan added a Laureus to their laurels.
Standing alongside the world’s greatest athletes were leaders from the inspirational Lesotho-based football programmeKick4Life, recipients of the 2025Laureus Sport for Good Award.
25 years after the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards were held in Monaco in 2000, this special anniversary edition of the greatest show in sports was also a celebration of the growth of Laureus as a unique sporting movement, encompassing the world-famous Awards and the year-round work of Laureus Sport for Good in over 40 countries.
The Awards evening launched a multi-media wave of posts, coverage and broadcast around the world, as athletes, media and bloggers reacted to this year’s winners – each presented with ‘The Laureus’ - the coveted statuette awarded to the winner in each category and the prize the greatest athletes in the world value above all other Awards – voted on by the 69 sporting legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
And this year, the body awarded two additional statuettes, honouring 22-time Grand Slam tennis championRafael Nadal andKelly Slater, an 11-time world champion in surfing.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games were at the heart of the sporting year in 2024, and this year’s list of Laureus winners includes several athletes who added a Laureus to their collection of gold.
It was the fourth time lucky for the greatest pole-vaulter of all time,Mondo Duplantis. He was awarded theLaureus World Sportsman of the Year Awardafter being nominated in each of the last three years and is the second track-and-field athlete to win this Award, after four-time winner Usain Bolt.
Still just 25 years old, the Swede shows no signs of loosening his grip over the competition following another historic year. After winning his second World Indoor Championship gold medal in March, Duplantis broke his own world record for a remarkable ninth time in 2024 on the way to gold in Paris, before shattering it again at the Silesia Diamond League meeting the following month. Duplantis received his Award from last year’s winner, Novak Djokovic.
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year,Mondo Duplantis: “I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid and to have the great Usain Bolt pay tribute to me, who I follow as the second track and field athlete to win this Award.
“The Laureus Awards are the ultimate awards that we athletes want to win. I know because this is the fourth time I have been nominated – and that proves it’s harder to win a Laureus than an Olympic gold medal!
“I’ll never forget receiving this beautiful Laureus from the great Novak Djokovic – I’m following in the footsteps of giants like Novak, Usain, Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi. The list of past winners of this Award is like a history of sporting greatness over the past 25 years.
“The Laureus Awards represent something more than sporting achievement. The fact that they are voted on by the 69 world-class athletes of the Laureus World Sports Academy elevates them to another level. These are athletes who know the dedication and commitment that lies behind sporting successes; they have set the mark that athletes like me strive for. To be recognised by them is truly something special.
“Finally, I must also acknowledge Laureus’ broader mission of using sport as a vehicle for change in the world. The work of Laureus Sport for Good has transformed lives around the world, and – as the Awards celebrate its 25th anniversary – it is important to reflect on the enormous legacy that it has created. It’s a legacy I am proud to be a part of.”
Simone Biles’ breathtaking displays in the French capital saw her namedLaureus World Sportswoman of the Year for the fourth time, equalling the record held by tennis great and compatriot Serena Williams – they both also have oneComeback of the Year Award.
Biles called the Paris Games her ‘redemption tour’ after taking a break from the sport, and the most decorated gymnast in history produced a stunning performance, picking up three golds and a silver. One year after winning thatComeback of the Year Award, her redemption is complete.
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year,Simone Biles: “I’m so happy to be here in Madrid and to receive my fourthLaureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award.
“I won this Award for the first time in 2017, and Laureus has been a part of my story since then. And I share their belief that sport has the power to change the world. That might be a little girl watching someone like me on television and deciding she can do it, too. Or it could be the incredible work Laureus Sport for Good has undertaken for the past 25 years, all over the world.
“I’d like to thank the legendary members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, who vote for the winners. It must be an almost impossible job, but their unique personal experiences of sport at the highest level gives them an understanding of what it takes to be the very best. Their generation has inspired us, athletes standing here before you. That is why the Laureus Awards truly are the ‘Athletes Awards’ and I am proud to have added to my ‘Laureus’ collection.”
Brazilian gymnastRebeca Andrade completed her inspirational return from career-threatening injuries at the Paris Games, and she is this year’s recipient of theLaureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
Andrade considered quitting the sport in the wake of a series of soul-crushing injuries, including three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and agonising rehabilitations. Her long road back to the top was complete when she won gold in the floor competition – a moment memorialised forever by the image of her long-time rival Biles bowing to her as she stood at the top of the podium.
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award winner,Rebeca Andrade, said: “This beautiful Laureus Statuette represents a huge amount of hard work, of struggle and pain, and also great happiness and one of my most cherished memories – standing on top of the Olympic podium again.
“In the 25-year history of these Awards that have become the ultimate prize for athletes, these stories of resilience have inspired generations of young people. Previous winners of the Comeback of the Year have included some of the greatest athletes of all time, from my fellow Brazilian, Ronaldo, to Simone last year.
“And just as our stories reach every corner of the world, we stand here alongside Laureus Sport for Good as they bring together projects from across the globe which use sport to improve the lives of children and young people.
“Individual sports can be isolating, but Paris showed that camaraderie can exist between competitors, and I was so proud to compete alongside last year’s winner of this Award, Simone Biles. Simone and I are the only two gymnasts to win a Laureus Award, and I hope our stories can inspire anyone who has experienced injuries and setbacks to keep fighting through the many obstacles placed in front of them on the long road to recovery.”
Tom Pidcock is theLaureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year after winning the Olympic mountain bike cross-country title in unforgettable fashion.
His hopes of defending the title he won in Tokyo appeared all but over after suffering a puncture, but after changing wheels, the British rider staged a stirring fightback to reel in leader and home favourite Victor Koretsky before pulling off a daring late overtake in the trees to win gold against the odds.
Pidcock is the fourth British cyclist to win the Action Sportsperson of the Year Award, following Jamie Bestwick (2014), Rachel Atherton (2017) and Beth Shriver (2022).
Paralympic swimming superstarJiang Yuyan collected theLaureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.
Yuyan was the most decorated athlete at the 2024 Paralympic Games, winning seven para swimming golds from seven events in the pool, matching the feat of Laureus Academy Member Mark Spitz.
The 19-year-old also set two individual world records and was honoured as the flagbearer for the Chinese team at the closing ceremony. She is the seventh Chinese winner of a Laureus after Yao Ming (Breakthrough 2003, Spirit of Sport 2015), Liu Xiang (Breakthrough, 2005), China Olympic Team (Team, 2009), Li Na (Exceptional Achievement, 2015), Xia Boyu (Sporting Moment, 2019) and Eileen Gu (Action, 2023).
Teen sensationLamine Yamal was the recipient of theLaureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award after emerging as one of football’s global superstars.
As part of the Spain team which won Euro 2024, he became the youngest player to score in the European Championships as well as the youngest to feature in the final and was named Best Young Player of the tournament. He is only the second footballer to win this Award, after Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder who won it last year.
Bellingham did not go unrecognised tonight, either.Real Madridare quite simply a winning machine and were honoured with theLaureus World Team of the Year Awardafter a season in which they won La Liga for a record 36th time, delivered a 15th UEFA Champions League/European Cup title, and defeated rivals Barcelona 4-1 in the Supercopa de España.
The club continued to sweep aside all before them at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, winning both the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, an achievement which saw Carlo Ancelotti become Madrid’s most decorated manager.
For 25 years, the Laureus World Sports Awards have seen the greatest athletes in the world share the stage with Laureus Sport for Good programmes that fulfil the mission defined by the founding patron of Laureus at the first Awards: to use the power of sport to change the world.
Kick4Life is one of over 300 Laureus Sport for Good projects all over the world making a difference in their communities, and they were presented with this year’sLaureus Sport for Good Award in Madrid.Kick4Life uses football to reach at-risk children in Lesotho, promoting health education, life-skills development, gender rights and employability. The inspirational organisation, which was also nominated for this Award in 2022, has reached more than 250,000 young people since it was founded in 2005.
Nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards are decided by the world’s media, and the winners are voted on by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy – the ultimate sporting jury. This year, the Academy also included two discretionary Awards.
Carlos Alcaraz with Rafael Nadal during the award show.
Rafael Nadal received theLaureus Sporting Icon Awardafter a year in which he announced the end of one of the greatest careers in the history of professional tennis. A celebratory video package of his career was specially voiced by Morgan Freeman, who included his own tribute to the Spaniard. This year’s Awards expands on Nadal’s ‘Laureus Slam’ – he is the only athlete to have won theSportsman of the Year Award, theComeback of the Year, theBreakthrough of the Year and theLaureus Sport for Good Award.
Rafael Nadal said,“The Laureus World Sports Awards are important to me. Back in 2006, I won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award in Barcelona, in front of sporting heroes who had inspired millions of people around the world. Then last year, after twice being named Sportsman of the Year and also winning Comeback of the Year, my foundation was honoured to win the Laureus Sport for Good Award, here in Madrid.”
“My retirement from competitive tennis made 2024 an emotional year for me, where there were some magical moments like the one in Paris, carrying the Olympic torch. Tennis and sports in general have given me so much; my drive has always been to compete and try my best every time I stepped on the court. Competitive tennis has stopped, and it is time to reflect and to appreciate all the support I receive from everyone – my friends and family, my fans, my fellow athletes.
“A Sporting Icon? I think that is for other people to decide. But I hope that my career has inspired sports fans beyond tennis. I gave it everything I had. As athletes, we have a unique opportunity to use our influence and inspiration to make a positive impact on the world and as I move into my next chapter, I’m going to hold on to the ideals that I share with Laureus and work with them to achieve the most important thing an athlete can do – changing the world through sport.”
AndKelly Slater, widely considered the greatest surfer of all time, received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. Slater is a four-time winner of theLaureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award and an 11-time World Surf League champion.
The full list of Winners in the Laureus World Sports Awards 2025
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award:Mondo Duplantis
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles
Laureus World Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award:Jiang Yuyan
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award:Tom Pidcock
AI in Sports: How It's Changing Player Performance & Fan Experience
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence or AI in sports is rapidly growing as it is revolutionizing the experience for both fans and players, bringing significant changes for greater communication.
Artificial Intelligence has been improving the sports we watch and analyze for nearly the past 20 years, but the latest generation of ultra-modern AI tools is revolutionizing every aspect of sports, from improving player and team performances to ensuring safety along with fan engagement and the experiences.
AI can process and store large amounts of data, which allows us to gain insights that we couldn't see before. This capability is at the center of the revolution. For the players, this brings improved strategies, varied training methods, and a significantly lower risk of injury.
The fans enjoy a whole new level of engagement in the game, thanks to Al-powered platforms providing content tailored to them, such as virtual reality experiences and more.
The massive impact of AI in the Sports Industry
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the Sports Industry rapidly by offering solutions to common problems such as individual performance, tactical requirements, injuries and recoveries, variations in training, etc.
The capacity of AI and GenAI tools to analyze complex data and provide instant insights is ushering in a new era of athletic performance and fan engagement as well.
From predictive analytics that improve player safety and performance to AI-powered viewing experiences for fans, the influence of artificial intelligence is setting the bar higher across the industry.
1. Player and team performance
(Image Credit | Markovate)
GenAI can analyze team and player behavior to reach conclusions that would contribute to improved training and coaching. For example, they can monitor and analyze the movements of players with computer vision.
In this way, they can assess whether an athlete is moving wrongly or could be injured. Machine learning algorithms can watch game videos to identify patterns of the opposing team. Sports coaches can be made to develop wiser game plans and strategies by artificial intelligence.
Some techniques, including motion tracking and motion analysis, can capture changes in the posture, movement, or technique of a player that indicte fatigue or poor motor control.
According to a study by Grand View Research, the sports analytics market size was valued at $1.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2028, showcasing the rapid growth and demand for advanced analytics tools in sports.
The following two tools are widely applicable to player and team analysis:
SportVU: This system tracks detailed player and ball motion in a game with computer vision and machine learning. It can analyze shot mechanics, accelerations and decelerations, speed, and distance.
KINEXON: This system tracks positional and motion data in real-time by equipping players with sensors.
2. Injury Prediction and Prevention
(Image Credit | Sportsmith)
Injuries occur regularly in professional sports. Identifying and preventing injuries before they even occur is likely one of the most thrilling applications of AI.
Teams can utilize AI algorithms to monitor an individual's motion as they move their joints and strain their muscles. It can search for patterns or instabilities that signify an injury before the symptoms themselves appear.
AI can recognize a slight deviation in the amount of strain a soccer player puts on their knee joint and warn the coaches or medical staff. Way before the injury became acute enough to cause the player to miss games, the team could either give them rest or do exercises to help them recover.
A report by MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global sports medicine market, which incorporates AI-driven health monitoring solutions, is projected to reach $9.3 billion by 2026, underlining the significant role of AI in athlete well-being.
The following two tools could be used in the AI-powered prediction and prevention of injuries:
Sparta Science: It uses computer vision and motion sensing in analyzing movement patterns of an athlete. Based on motion data, biomechanical deficiencies, and especially risks of increased injury, machine learning models are able to identify those.
Zone 7: It measures injury risk using factors such as workload, degree of fatigue, and others through artificial intelligence and research in sports science. Their methods take age, position, body composition, and medical history into account.
3. Training Through AI-Powered Analytics and Wearables
(Image Credit | Sports Tomorrow)
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are examples of wearable technology that have become essential for tracking many of the parameters mentioned earlier.
Wearable GPS devices that can track athletes' speed and location, overall distance traveled, and movement patterns are available to provide relevant information.
Wearable heart rate monitors use optical sensors to measure blood flow in real-time, tracking the heart rate. This is an important aspect of monitoring heart health, fitness levels, and recovery. It also helps in tracking blood oxygen levels, which is another important component of modern-day fitness trackers. They use optical sensors to track the oxygen saturation level of blood.
Since the 2010s, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), such as GPS tracking vests, have been commonly used in professional sports. Such vests are offered with discrete and effective GPS tracking and sensors located on the back and shoulders; they are typically worn as tank tops.
In football and rugby, the vest is mainly utilized to track the location and movement of a player and, thereby, report strengths and weaknesses.
4. Sports Commentary and Reporting
Sports commentary and reporting can automatically be generated from match events and live data by employing natural language processing(NLP) methods like GPT-3. Artificially intelligent commentary not only comments on a strategy but also summarizes the critical events of match play.
Similarly, GenAI can create such highlights, summaries, and post-match data reportage for viewing audiences as well.
NLP methods can make the commentary more dramatic and interesting by taking into account the game statistics and situations in real-time data. With the use of generated personalities and tones, it is possible to accommodate various fan interests in the coverage.
Automated GenAI reporting enhances sports coverage and commentary without losing interesting and captivating stories.
5. Sports Officiating
(Image Credit | Griffon Webstudios)
The use of AI in sports officiating is not without controversy, including traditional backlash and concerns regarding technology's influence on the game. Yet, the improvements it introduces, such as real-time analysis and decision support, are dramatically enhancing the accuracy and fairness of officiating.
Its capabilities to review plays from multiple angles and analyze them in seconds are proving invaluable in high-level games where every call matters.
Despite initial doubts, the use of AI in officiating is increasingly being accepted, with many seeing its potential to eliminate human error and ensure a level playing field.
As the technology improves and its uses extend, its role in assisting fair play and accuracy in sports is poised to increase, ushering in a new era in the use of technology and sportsmanship.
6. Player Scouting
(Image Credit | Intuz)
Team owners are using artificial intelligence to review the performance of the players. To determine the most skilled people to invest in, they use data analysis using artificial intelligence. It takes millions of dollars to find talent in the sports world.
So, team owners would like to ensure that scouting one player is the best decision. Artificial intelligence is used widely in scouting players for any sport, be it cricket, football, or basketball.
AI-powered Change in Fan Engagement and Experiences
1. Personalized Fan Engagement
To provide customised fan experiences, GenAI algorithms can model the preferences and behaviours of audiences. Sports teams and broadcasters can use these insights to optimize engagement across media channels.
For example, social media platforms can deliver tailored video highlights, personalized promotions, and AI-recommended content to resonate with each fan.
The NBA revealed 'NB-AI', allowing fans to activate "movie mode" and watch live games animated like popular films, such as Spider-Man
Based on their past interactions and activities, the Generative AI identifies what content types, sports stats, and topics each fan finds most appealing. It creates and sends personalized content for each person. This level of customization, enabled by GenAI in sports, helps sports organizations connect more deeply with their audiences.
2. Viewing Experiences
GenAI can process live video to generate augmented reality (AR) overlays and graphics that enhance broadcasts or live streams.
For example, shot trajectories, real-time player stats, and situational analysis can be visualized and overlaid onto the gameplay footage. For virtual reality (VR), GenAI can create real-world simulated environments for an immersive in-game perspective.
The key innovation is using Generative AI to dynamically generate and adapt AR/VR overlays and environments on the fly, customized to each moment. As the narrative and action of the game shift, the GenAI-powered augmented experiences shift with them, elevating viewing to multidimensional engagement.
A survey conducted by PwC found that 65% of sports fans are interested in using AR or virtual reality (VR) devices to watch sports, indicating a growing appetite for immersive experiences enabled by AI-driven technologies.
Conclusion
AI collaboration with sports is making the place safer as well as fairer. Predictive modeling and algorithms in AI are becoming a must for injury prevention. AI guarantees that more accuracy and fairness can be introduced in the outcome of a game by enhancing officiating. Both the aspects of performance and integrity are vital components in ensuring the prosperity and popularity of sports continue.
The impact of AI reaches sports journalism, advertising, and the creation of next-gen sports equipment, beyond the field or court. These innovations create new revenue streams and provide more exciting ways for fans to engage with their beloved sports and teams.
In this sense, artificial intelligence in the sports field could be said to be, by itself, a change not only for the athletes or for the coaches but for the sports system in general. With AI, the sports of the future could easily be foreseen because technology would harmoniously mix with manly athleticism at its highest levels.
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