Dubai Superseries Finals : Sindhu eyes clean sweep

However, Kidambi Srikanth has nothing but pride to play for after his two defeats cost him a place in the semifinal. He will face Shi Yuqi of China while P. V. Sindhu will battle Japan's Akane Yamaguchi.

Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu has a favourable head to head record over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi.

India's badminton superstar P.V. Sindhu has the edge over Akane Yamaguchi when they meet on Friday in the Dubai Superseries Finals.

Sindhu has four career wins over the Japanese shuttler, her latest win coming in last month's Hong Kong Open. Meanwhile, Yamaguchi has notched two wins over her Indian opponent.

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The pair's previous meeting in the Super Series Finals in 2016 ended in Sindhu's favour with the Indian coming back from a game down to win 12-21, 21-8, 21-15.

Yamaguchi defeated Sindhu 21-14, 21-9 in this year's French Open semifinals. The World No. 2's only other win came in their first ever meeting in the Japanese Open in 2013.

Both shuttlers are in good form in the tournament, with neither losing their respective two games so far.

HEAD TO HEAD

Srikanth playing for pride

Kidambi Srikanth hopes of making it to the semifinals may have ended but he would look to finish the year on a high with a victory over Shi Yuqi. Srikanth will take heart from his three career wins over the Chinese World No. 8.

The Indian shuttler beat Yuqi in the Singapore Open (quarterfinals), Australian Open (semifinals) and the French Open (quarterfinals). He went onto claim the title in the latter two tournaments.

The World No. 4 will have his task cut out on Friday as Yuqi has won his two matches in the Finals - with wins over world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen and Chou Tien Chen.

HEAD TO HEAD