The 25-year-old from Okinawa, playing in the tournament for the first time, showed no signs of stagefright on her way to a bogey-free total.

Higa launched a superb first round with a run of three consecutive birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes before a further birdie at the ninth took her to four under at the turn.

Two more birdies on the back nine left her at six under, one shot clear of German rookie Esther Henseleit, another US Women’s Open debutant, and American amateur Gina Kim, who both posted five-under-par 66s.

“I didn’t expect much here, to come here and play that well,” Higa said.

“I came here on a Saturday, and since then, I not only golf, but I enjoy the life here. So I’ll keep enjoying it and enjoying it, and just come in to the golf course, and I just enjoyed 18 holes today.”

Higa said she had adjusted to the hot, humid conditions in South Carolina by limiting her practice.

“It’s really, really hot here, so I try not to waste my energy,” she said “So short practice and just staying calm and just get rest.”

Higa’s fellow debutant Henseleit was similarly flawless in her maiden US Women’s Open round, sinking five birdies and 13 pars en route to her bogey-free 66.

Meanwhile, defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn opened her campaign in dismal form following a 72. Thailand’s best results were even par achieved by Thidapa Suwannapura and Moriya Jutanugarn.

– Second chance –

It marked a fairytale debut for Henseleit, who feared her chances of playing in the tournament were over after she lost a playoff in qualifiers in London.

She was eventually handed a slot as one of the first alternates.

“Back at the qualifier in London, I was doing really well, and then I played some stupid bogeys in the end and lost in the playoff, and I felt like, OK, there’s no chance I could play here, and it was really sad,” Henseleit said.

“And when I got the message, like maybe 1 1/2 weeks ago, and, of course, I couldn’t imagine to like sit here and do that good.”

“I played good the last few months, but it’s kind of my first time playing in the US, and playing in such a good field. So it’s huge for me.”

Henseleit found herself sharing second with US amateur player Kim, who had a wild round which included six birdies, an eagle and three bogeys.

The 19-year-old from New Mexico’s highlight was a brilliant eagle on the 391-yard par four eighth.

Henseleit and Kim were one shot ahead of France’s Celine Boutier, who was in fourth after a four-under-par 67.

South Korea’s Kim Sei-young and Spain’s Azahara Munoz shared fifth after posting 68s, while a group of seven players were two under on 69.

Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn meanwhile struggled to get to grips with the course, carding four bogeys and three birdies for a one-over-par 72.

World number one Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, came back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat former world number one Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Her win came on the back of being just two points from defeat in her tournament opener against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

The 21-year-old held her nerve, despite squandering two match points late in the deciding set, to secure a clash against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.

“I was lucky to have played Victoria twice before. I knew she had been playing well coming into the tournament,” said Osaka.

“It was an unfortunate second round draw for me so I am happy to win.”

Osaka finished the two-hour 50-minute encounter on Court Suzanne Lenglen with 52 winners and 43 unforced errors.

She becomes the first top seed to win her two opening matches at Roland Garros after losing the first set since Lindsay Davenport in 2005.

“She deserves to be where she is — she is very powerful and explosive,” said 29-year-old Azarenka.

Siniakova, the world number 42, also endured a marathon win, putting out Greek 29th seed Maria Sakkari 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 in a three-hour 10-minute duel.

Siniakova had trailed 1-5 in the first set before surrendering a 5/2 lead in the second-set tiebreaker.

– Big daddy Djokovic –

Djokovic cruised into the last 32 for the 14th successive year, admitting it had been an emotional day playing for the first time in front of his four-year-old son.

Djokovic, bidding to become just the second man to hold all four Slams at the same time twice, cruised to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 win over Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen.

Watching from the player’s box on Court Suzanne Lenglen was Djokovic’s son Stefan.

“It’s a very special day for me as it’s the first time in my life that I have played in front of my son,” said the 32-year-old Serb after a 23rd straight win at the Slams.

“He showed incredible patience to sit there for an hour and a half. Usually, he’s not that patient with tennis.”

Djokovic goes on to face Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso, ranked 147, for a place in the last 16 in Paris.

Thursday was a lot more enjoyable for Djokovic than his last visit to Court Suzanne Lenglen in 2018 when he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Marco Cecchinato.

Three-time French Open champion Williams thrashed Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara to step up her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

The 37-year-old cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 victory and next faces fellow American Sofia Kenin.

“I’m very serious when I play, but I’m happy,” said Williams.

A mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Osaka, who famously beat Williams in a dramatic 2018 US Open final, remains a possibility.

Williams hammered 10 aces and 36 winners past world number 238 Nara, who stands a mere 5ft 1in (1.55m).

Defending champion Simona Halep wasted three match points in the second set of her clash with Poland’s Magda Linette but eventually prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Fourth seed Dominic Thiem overcame an entertaining challenge from Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik to reach the third round for the fourth straight year.

The Austrian fourth seed was facing a fifth set when trailing 5-2 in the fourth, but reeled off five straight games to win 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-5.

World number 91 Bublik delighted the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd with his wide range of shots, including three underarm serves in the opening set.

The reward for Thiem is a clash against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas who made it through when British number one Kyle Edmund retired with a knee injury at 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 2-1 down.

Fifth seeded German Alexander Zverev, a quarter-finalist in 2018, easily disposed of Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

Juan Martin del Potro, the Argentine eighth seed and a two-time semi-finalist, needed treatment on his right knee against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in a three-hour 46-minute thriller.

But he still ground out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 win to progress, sending down 17 aces and 69 winners.

With star players sold and the proceeds, largely, squandered, Pochettino and Klopp were each tasked with restoring a sense of direction to clubs clearly wandering off course.

Only this year have Liverpool soared ahead, their 26-point advantage over Spurs in the Premier League testament to a team that turned last year’s Champions League run into a start not a finish. Now it is up to Tottenham to do the same.

When Pochettino was installed as head coach in the summer of 2014, to little excitement after the more illustrious Louis van Gaal chose Manchester United, he owed some gratitude to Liverpool.

Spurs had been humiliated by them 5-0 at White Hart Lane, which spelt the end for Andre Villas-Boas, and then thrashed 4-0 at Anfield, which all but ensured Tim Sherwood would not be a permament successor to the Portuguese manager.

By the time Pochettino arrived, Gareth Bale had gone, and so had his 100 million euro transfer fee, splashed on seven new signings, four of whom would be out by the end of Pochettino’s second summer.

“When I arrived at Tottenham I knew very well the challenge would be tough,” Pochettino said in January. “The club was in a different level. No one believed in us, no one believed the way we operated would bring success.”

– Demolition and rebuild –

Liverpool, a year behind, were mourning the loss of their star player too as Luis Suarez left for Spain and the 81 million euros earned was frittered away, leaving Klopp with his own clear-out job in 2015.

Fabio Borini, Sebastian Coates, Iago Aspas, Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli were discarded by Liverpool. Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Emmanuel Adebayor ditched by Tottenham.

After the demolition, came the rebuild. Pochettino brought in Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min. Klopp added Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Piece-by-piece, each club’s identity sharpened again and Champions League qualification became not just a target, but the norm.

Yet while Tottenham briefly threatened to win the title in 2017, finishing closest to Chelsea on 86 points, they then dropped back, ending the last two seasons 23 and 27 behind Manchester City.

“We need to make that step,” Pochettino said this week. “We realise we can continue in this process, we can put Tottenham with the best teams in the world.”

Liverpool have pushed on. Aided by bigger budgets and free of the strains imposed on Spurs as a result of their new stadium, Klopp saw the moment after last year’s loss to Real Madrid and grabbed it.

In January 2018, they sold Philippe Coutinho for 160 million euros and used the money to strengthen a weak defence by signing Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.

– Show of faith –

In the summer, they acquired an outstanding goalkeeper in Alisson Becker as well as greater strength in midfield with Fabinho and Naby Keita. In Coutinho, they sold a star but this time made it pay.

“When I first heard he wanted to go to Barcelona, I didn’t imagine we could be that good [without him],” Klopp said this month. “But we did it, it was good for both sides.”

Even winning the Champions League might not guarantee the futures of Tottenham’s own dithering gems, with Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld still to commit and on contracts that are running out.

But if either, or both, decide to go, perhaps Spurs can take encouragement from Liverpool, by addressing problem areas at full-back, in central midfield and up front.

The club’s chairman Daniel Levy will need to answer Pochettino’s repeated calls for a show of faith, one that reflects the unwavering belief Pochettino enjoys from his players.

In that sense, a Champions League final could prove cathartic too, offering Spurs the chance to shake off their nearly-men tag, and assume fully the bold, brave, uncompromising mentality of their coach.

“It’s not that I didn’t believe him,” said defender Danny Rose this week. “I just didn’t understand.” For Tottenham, it could be a match that makes everything clearer.

Without even once raising his fists, the Kasetsart University engineering student knocked out his rival cold for a spot at December’s SEA Games in the Philippines. Despite having limited time practising the combat game, the 22-year-old senior employed a variety of techniques to win the Tekken7 final 3-1 in the National Qualifiers, which was part of the Thailand Games Expo by AIS eSports.

His prize was a berth on the national team for the first-ever SEA Games Esports competition.

“I’m thrilled, not just because I won this competition but because now I have the chance to promote Tekken7, which is not as widely played in Thailand as other Esports,” said the Bangkokian, who barely had time to train ahead of the tournament.

“I practised only a few times before the competition as I was tied up with school work in Kamphaeng Saen [in Nakhon Pathom]. So my strategy was to learn the techniques on YouTube,” added Nopparut, runner up in the 2017 Esports World Championship in Busan.

Nopparut Hempamorn and Rachawin Tanasoontorngoon in a face-off

According to Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) president Santi Lothong, no fewer than six Esports gold medals will be up for grabs in the SEA Games between November 30 December 10. The six categories are Tekken7 (Console), ROV (Arena of Valor, a smartphone game), Dota 2 (PC), Starcraft II (PC), Mobile Legends Bang Bang (smartphone) and another to be announced.

“Our hopes depend on Tekken7 and ROV. But the Philippines and Vietnam have strong players in these two categories. If we don’t have to compete against them in the final, the gold medals should belong to us,” said Santi.

Nopparut, meanwhile, is more concerned with making amends for his loss in the final round of the International Esports Federation event in the Philippines.

“I need to redeem my pride. I still have six months to get ready for the Games and I hope to perform my best in my SEA Games debut,” he said. The National Qualifiers are taking place from now on until July, with winners making up a Thailand team of 24 Esports players.

The National Qualifiers, co-organised by AIS and TESF, for other categories, will take place from now on until July. In the end, a team of 24 Esports athletes will be chosen to represent Thailand. Fans can catch up with all TESF competitions through AIS Play app.

A day after beating two-time Asian Games gold medallists South Korea, Thailand failed to maintain their form, succumbing to nerves as they fell 25-21 25-22 25-23 against the Belgians, who finished 13th in the League last year.

Thailand, with two wins against four defeats over two weeks of Pool 7 competition, will now return home for Pool 11, the third round of the League series, at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium from June 4-6. They face Bulgaria, Dominican Republic and Turkey on June 4, 5 and 6 in respectively.

Thailand coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul said: “The Belgium players received the ball excellently today. We tried our best to mount a comeback but we were not able to defend against their attack.”

Thailand captain Nootsara Tomkom said: “I would like to congratulate Belgium on their win today. They put up a good display today and they overpowered us with their serves and attack.”

Belgium coach Gert Vande Broek said: “It is great to finish this game week with an important win for my team. I have huge respect for the Thailand team because I am such a big fan of the way they play volleyball, and I believe that their tactical combinations and the way they search for solutions in both attack and defence are great for the promotion of volleyball. Both teams are so evenly matched and 3-0 is really a tough scoreline for Thailand because both teams deserve to win today.”