The 28-year-old from Nakhon Ratchasima will make her second appearance in the Cup after being the Kingdom’s flag-bearer in 2015, when Thailand finished 17th out of 24 teams and failed to advance to the knock-out stage.

In their final preparation for this year’s event the Thai players, under the guidance of coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian, have studied video clips of the US team to get fully to date with what they would be up against.

“We have to defend in all directions,” said the Chonburi Sripathum player. “They will be attacking all the time and we have to prevent that.

“Effective communication between players in all positions will be essential. We have rearranged our game plan in order to tackle their game,” said Warunee, who will be earning her 45th cap since making her debut in 2014.

The Thai-US game can be watched on PPTV 36 at 2.30am on Wednesday.  The Kingdom follow with games against 2016 Olympics silver medallists Sweden on June 16 and Chile on June 21.

“Everybody in the team wants to score a goal or do even better. We know how tough they are and we will avoid mistakes,” Warunee added.

Alexandre Gama 

Gama angry with second

Meanwhile, national U23 team coach Alexandre Gama was infuriated after his side lost to Singapore 1-0 in the final of the Merion Cup in Singapore on Sunday.

“The team has finished second three times under my charge. This is very disappointing,” the Brazilian said. “I didn’t like it at all and don’t know what’s going on. We will come back to figure things out.”

Apart from Sunday’s defeat, Gama’s side also had heartbreaking losses to Indonesia 2-1 in February’s AFF U22 final and 4-0 to Vietnam in a qualifying game for the under-23 Asian Cup a month later.

There’s been widespread speculation that Gama will soon lose his job due to the dismal results under his charge.

Stamp is set to defend her ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title on 15 June against Australian WBC and IPCC Muay Thai Champion Alma Juniku at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai.

Headlining the stacked ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, the 21-year-old is determined to give fans in attendance the best match of the evening.

“I just want to show the world that even in a field that is dominated by men, that women like us can shine and make a name for ourselves,” Stamp said. “When I won my first title in ONE, it was an unbelievable moment for me, and it made all my sacrifice and my hard work worth it.”

Stamp caught a break with ONE Championship when she knocked out her opponent with a stunning head kick, just 19 seconds in her first mixed martial arts bout in Richard Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series.

She made her official ONE Championship debut in October 2018 with a masterful performance over former champion Kai Ting Chuang, winning via unanimous decision to capture the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Title.

Immediately after, Stamp challenged for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title.

Against Japanese-American striker Janet Todd, the young Thai sensation secured the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship and made history by becoming the first ONE athlete to hold a world title in two different sports simultaneously.

Believing that gender should not hinder anyone from achieving their goals, Stamp is also aiming for a world title in mixed martial arts, based on a Facebook post from ONE Championship CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong.

“I knew, however, that I could do even more, and I believe that I have proved that by being ONE’s first-ever two-sport world champion,” Stamp said. “But again, it does not stop there. I earned my way into ONE Championship through mixed martial arts, and I plan on also becoming a world champion in that field so that I can also make history by becoming a three-sport world champion, something that has not been done before.”

Stamp wants to be a well-known athlete of the sport and hopes her name becomes synonymous with legends such as Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Jonathan Haggerty.

She continues to spread the message that Muay Thai is for everyone, and continuously motivates young girls who dream of succeeding in the sport that they can become a World Champion like her.

“By achieving that, I hope that I can become an inspiration and a source of motivation to all the women and the little girls out there who are aspiring to succeed, not just in martial arts, but in anything that they wish to pursue. If I can do it, so can they,” Stamp concluded.

Thompson, who finished runner-up at last week’s US Women’s Open, carded at 12-under 201 total at the Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey.

“It was all a matter of just trusting my shots, trusting the lines,” said Thompson. “The bogeys on the back nine, they weren’t bad shots or bad bogeys, so you just have to let them go.”

She finished one shot in front of 36-hole leader Lee6 Jeong-eun for her 11th LPGA title, and it came at the site of her first professional win nine years ago.

“I knew coming into the day that it was going to play very difficult, just because this golf course can get so windy and it’s a lot of crosswinds,” said Thompson.

The win gives Thompson the longest win streak on the USLPGA Tour, with a victory in each of the past seven seasons. She is also the 13th different winner this season.

She combatted three bogeys with five birdies and sealed the deal with an eagle.

The 24-year-old Florida native started the day two strokes behind second-round leader Lee, who stumbled on the back nine with three straight bogeys on holes 13-15.

Thompson took advantage of the par fives over the 54 hole tournament, going 11 under on those.

Lee shot a final round 70 to reach 11-under 202 and American Ally McDonald finished by herself in third place after shooting 70 for a nine-under total.

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist fired a 69 to finish at seven under for fourth place, while a trio of players finished tied for fifth at six under, including Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (68), China’s Liu Yu (72) and Mariah Stackhouse (74).

Tour rookie Lily He Muni of China had the best opening round of her brief career with a 64 on Friday but then stumbled to the finish with a 78 on Sunday. He, a 19-year-old who already has 220,000 Instagram followers, finished in a tie for 64th.

The Dutch defensive pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt largely kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet, but Valencia winger Guedes proved the match winner as his shot had too much power for Jasper Cillessen in the Netherlands goal.

“Thank god things have gone well for the national team in recent years. Portugal has won important things like Euro 2016 and now the League of Nations,” said Ronaldo.

“It may seem like an easy job but it’s hard, it takes a lot of dedication and willingness. I think the players deserve to be congratulated.”

Portugal had the advantage of an extra day’s rest and not being forced to extra time against Switzerland in their semi-final as the Dutch were in seeing off England on Thursday.

And the hosts looked the fresher throughout with Ronald Koeman’s men jaded at the end of a long season.

“If we were tired I don’t know, but we were not good enough,” admitted Koeman.

“They defended well and the were very compact in their game, but you have to be better with the ball and we were not.”

The match had been billed as a showdown between Ronaldo and Van Dijk but with the Dutch captain again rock solid at the back, Portugal’s main threat came from midfield with Bernardo Silva rightfully winning player of the tournament.

“I’m very happy, very proud. It’s my first title with my country,” said Silva, who also won an English domestic treble with Manchester City this season.

“Thank you to the Portuguese people, what a night for us, what a night for the country!”

Silva provided the one true moment of quality to decide the game.

He broke through the Dutch defence and then picked out Guedes, who bravely ignored playing in Ronaldo to drill a low shot past Cillessen himself.

“If you want to win you have to play well, and if Portugal won we had to play well, whether it was handsome or not,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

The Netherlands have made huge strides in just over a year since Koeman took charge after missing out on even qualifying for the last two tournaments.

After overcoming world champions France and Germany in the group stages, Koeman’s men also outclassed England in the semi-finals.

However, unlike in midweek when Frenkie de Jong dominated the midfield against the English, Holland’s latest Barcelona-bound star was unable to seize control of the game and their lack of a top-class striker left the Dutch toothless up front.

“We’ve made a lot of progress. We have to be very proud of ourselves; now disappointment is in our heads but we have to keep the heads up,” said Van Dijk.

“It’s been a good season but hopefully next season is going to be even better. That’s the only thing I’m striving for.”

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was declared the race winner after Vettel was penalised for squeezing his rival off track as he rejoined during a high-speed incident on lap 50.

The stewards judged that the Ferrari driver had made an unsafe re-entry and forced Hamilton off the circuit when he rejoined after running off across a strip of grass at the first chicane.

“Where could I go?” said an angry Vettel on team radio. “I had nowhere to go… They are stealing the race from us… This is the wrong world. This is not fair.”

After initially avoiding the post-race ceremonies, the crestfallen Vettel rejoined to appear on the podium where Hamilton pulled him up to join him on the top step.

Their mutual respect was clear in front of a capacity crowd at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“Well, first of all, I really enjoyed the race and the crowd on every lap,” said Vettel, without a win since last year’s Belgian Grand Prix and under pressure to repeat his 2018 success when he won from pole position.

“Seeing them cheer me on… It was very intense. I think you should ask the pit wall what they think, but we had a great show — and Lewis showed some good respect.”

When Hamilton was asked to speak, the crowd began to boo.

“All I can say is that I didn’t make the decision,” he explained. “So I don’t know what they’re booing at.”

Vettel intervened. “People shouldn’t boo at Lewis,” he said. “It wasn’t his intention to be in harm’s way. So, people shouldn’t boo at him. They should boo at those who make the decisions.”

– ‘Not the way I wanted’ –

This unity of respect followed their earlier comments when Hamilton thanked his team.

“Firstly I want to say a big thank-you to my team. It’s been a big effort for everyone, with my crash on Friday, to get the car sorted and I wouldn’t have been able to race.

“But that’s not the way I wanted to win. I forced him into an error and he went wide and we nearly collided. It’s unfortunate, but this is racing.”

Told that Vettel felt the stewards’ verdict was unfair, Hamilton responded: “That’s his opinion, of course!

“I took the corner normally and, when you come back on the track, you’re not supposed to go on to the racing line.”

Hamilton added: “That’s not the way I wanted to win, but I would have been past. Physically, I am destroyed. It was such a tough race.”

Asked if the stewards’ decision would be critical in the title race, Vettel said it was a question of principle above all else.

“It is not about the title now, we deserved to win now and that is our opinion,” he said. “It was a great race and the crowd cheered me on all the race. It’s a bit weird now, I don’t know what else to say.

“It is not making our sport popular. People want to see us race and it was racing. It is just a shame when we have these funny decisions.”

Later, speaking to reporters, he added that he regretted racing in the modern era of officious decision-making and corporate language — stirring fresh speculation that he may be considering his future in the sport.

Hamilton’s 78th career win was his record-equalling seventh in Canada –- drawing him level with Michael Schumacher -– and lifted him 29 points clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas at the top of the drivers’ championship.

It extended Mercedes’ record sequence of season-opening wins to seven races, five for Hamilton and two for Bottas.

The 33-year-old Spaniard becomes the first player, man or woman, to win the same Slam 12 times after seeing off a brave challenge from a weary Thiem in a repeat of the 2018 final.

Nadal is now just two behind Roger Federer’s all-time record of 20 majors and three ahead of Novak Djokovic who was knocked out by Thiem in the semi-finals.

The world number two also took his Paris record to an astonishing 93 wins and just two losses having previously won the title in 2005-2008, 2010-2014, 2017 and 2018.

“I want to say congratulations to Dominic. I feel sorry as he deserves to win it as well,” said Nadal.

“But he has every chance in the future. He has unbelievable talent for the sport and I want to encourage him for the future.

“It’s a dream to win again, an incredible moment. When I first played here in 2005 I never thought I would be still playing here in 2019.

“It’s very special for me.”

Sunday’s triumph confirmed the ‘Big Three’ stranglehold on the Grand Slams having shared the last 10 between them.

It also gave Nadal an 82nd career title and 950th match win.

“It’s very tough. I gave everything these last two weeks,” said Thiem, who had seven fewer winners and seven more unforced errors in the final.

“Rafa, well done. You are an amazing champion and a legend in our sport.

“I am happy that you are playing. To win 12 times, it’s unreal. I will try again, for sure.”

Thiem would have felt confident going into the final having beaten Nadal on clay on his way to the title in Barcelona in April.

But with the exception of defeats to Robin Soderling in 2009 and Djokovic in 2016, the outcome of this year’s tournament was brutally familiar.

“I am sorry as you are one of the best examples on tour,” added Nadal.

“You are a hard worker, always have a smile on your face and are a good person. That’s the most important thing.

“Thanks for being a great inspiration for me and small kids around the world.

– ‘You’ll win it one day’ –

“If I wanted to lose to someone it would be you because you deserve it. Well done and keep going — you will win this for sure.”

In a 53-minute first set of brutal hitting and raw physicality, it was Thiem who broke first for a 3-2 lead.

But the 25-year-old’s joy was short-lived as Nadal retrieved the break in the sixth game before racing away with the next three games to pocket the opener.

Thiem, who had beaten his opponent four times on clay in his career, failed to claim a single point off Nadal’s first five service games of the second set.

However, the dogged Austrian pushed and pushed, forced Nadal into three rushed groundstrokes and, from nowhere, broke to take the second set.

It was the first set he had managed to take off Nadal at Roland Garros after three previous defeats.

Nadal was riled by the insult.

He swept the first 10 points of the third set, carving out a double break for 3-0 before sweeping to a third break for the set.

Thiem, bidding to become just Austria’s second Grand Slam champion after Thomas Muster won in Paris in 1995, had played four successive days to reach Sunday’s final and the toll was slowly telling.

He wasted break points in the first and third games of the fourth set and Nadal pounced to stretch to 3-0.

That was soon 5-1 and the relentless barrage continued with Nadal taking the title on a second match point when Thiem fired a return long.

The Austrian, who was beaten by Nadal in straight sets in last year’s championship match, pushed his illustrious opponent all the way in the first two sets, only to run out of steam.

Nadal clinched a record-extending 12th Roland Garros title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory.

“I was closer than last year in the final, especially in the first two sets,” said fourth seed Thiem.

“So I’m on the right way. And I failed today, but my goal and my dream is still to win this tournament or to win a Grand Slam tournament.

“I will try my best next year again. I gave everything I had in these two weeks. That’s all what I could do. Was not enough at the end, but I went very far.”

The 25-year-old Thiem had claimed a stunning five-set semi-final win over world number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday, after poor weather forced their clash to be suspended during the third set on Friday night in Paris.

As a result, Thiem was playing for the fourth successive day in the final.

“Yesterday was one of my biggest victories in my career,” added Thiem, who has now reached at least the last four every year since 2016.

“I failed to make the biggest dream of my tennis life come true, so I don’t feel like I did yesterday.

“I felt fine physically, the first set was unbelievably intense, and the second set.

“Maybe I had a little drop in the third set, I don’t know. But… against other players, it’s not that dramatic, a little drop like that physically and also tennis-wise. But him, such a great champion, he uses the situation and goes all in.”

Thiem has beaten Nadal four times on clay, but Sunday was the first time in four meetings he had managed to take a set off the Spaniard at Roland Garros.

He pointed to the 18-time Grand Slam champion’s ability to mix up his game as a reason he is so formidable.

“If you ask all men in professional tennis, I mean, almost everybody will tell you that he’s one of the best volleyers of our game. Because the last time he missed a volley was maybe seven years ago.”

– Nadal tips Thiem for future glory –

Nadal, who moved within two major trophies of Roger Federer at the top of the all-time list, told Thiem after the match on court that he would win the title “one day” and said his vanquished opponent was a “great inspiration”.

Thiem has been more consistent this season than in previous years, beating Federer to win his maiden Masters title at Indian Wells before knocking out Nadal en route to the Barcelona Open title.

“I’m very disappointed and sad that I missed my second opportunity to win a Grand Slam title, but it’s okay. I mean, I’m used to it,” he said.

“I lost my first two Masters 1000 finals, as well. It’s obviously the most difficult thing in our sport to win one of the four majors.”

The ‘big three’ of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic have now taken each of the last 10 Grand Slam singles titles between them since Stan Wawrinka won his third major tournament at the 2016 US Open.

“That’s a unique and also brutal thing, I guess, in our sport, that I won six amazing matches,” added Thiem.

“I beat yesterday one of the biggest legends of our game. Not even 24 hours later, I have to step on court against another amazing legend of our game, against the best clay-court player of all time.

“That also shows how difficult nowadays it is to win a Grand Slam.”

The 31-year-old striker, after missing two matches through injury, finally appeared in his 100th game with the national team but walked off the pitch at the Chang Arena in Buri Ram with his head held low after his side suffered back-to-back defeats following their loss by the same score to Vietnam on Wednesday.

“It doesn’t matter what cap it is if your team loses,’’ lamented the Muangthong United star. “I was so disappointed that the result wasn’t what we expected,” he added.

The home team conceded the goal in the 17th minute when Anirudh Thapa converted a pass from Adil Ahmed Khan. Thapa previously scored against Thailand in January’s Asian Cup, in a game India also won – 4-1.

“I was not happy with my performance at all. I had several scoring opportunities but I didn’t take them. I wish I could have helped the team more,” added the downhearted Thai captain, who has just recovered from a back injury.

The national team will next play during Fifa World Cup Qualification in September. But with his far-from-impressive form this year and injury problems, Teerasil is uncertain if he will be called up for the September schedule.

“If I’m not part of plans, it won’t be a surprise. That’s the way football is. But I will always be there for the national team if I’m needed – for the first or second stringers,” Teerasil said.

Meanwhile, the women’s World Cup team has kicked into high gear in preparation for a Herculean task against defending champions USA in their group F first round-robin game in Reims, France.

National coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian is training her side to focus on high balls and how to tackle the American’s fast attacking game. The two nations face off early on Wednesday, Bangkok time.

“We have to fix some defensive aspects after the warm-up game with Belgium [which Thailand lost 6-1]. I expect more variety of attacking tactics from USA,” Nuengrutai said.

The two-day festival of sport and fun was presided over by LCDR. Worawit Techasupakura, RTN, Vice Minister for Tourism and Sports, and Mr. Prakob Wongmaneerung, Vice Governor of Phuket Province.

A boon for Phuket’s low season tourism, Laguna Phuket Marathon 2019 saw celebrities and singers – Nont Aulaphas Na Pom Petch, Somchai Khemkla and Supoj Chancharoe – actors and actresses – Jirayut Tantakul, Rachawin Wongwiriya, Aroonnapa Panichjaroon and Mathew Dean – rockstar Athiwara “ Toon” Kongmalai, and many of Thailand’s top athletes line-up together with runners from around the world.

The largest nationalities represented at this year’s Laguna Phuket Marathon were Thai, Japanese, Chinese and British. There was also a large contingent of runners from the Philippines and who made their presence known with Richard Salano and Prince Joey Lee finishing first and second in the Men’s Half Marathon, and Christine Hallasgo (PHI) and Christabel Martes (PHI) placing first and third in the Women’s Half Marathon. Other notable Filipino performances were from Bryan Quiamco and Azlan Pagay (PHI) who placed second and third respectively in the Men’s Marathon field, and April Rose Diaz who placed third.

Japanese runners dominated the 10.5km distance with Hiroki Nakajima and Hisashi Kitamura claiming first and second in the Men’s division ahead of Supit Chantharat (THA) in third. In the Women’s race, Phuket-based Dimity-Lee Duke (AUS) won in a time of 00:41:30, 23 seconds ahead of Tomomi Nakajima (JPN), who out-raced compatriot Sawa Aoki.

The Japanese super couple of Hiroki Nakajima and Tomomi Nakajima won their respective Marathon distances at the 2017 Laguna Phuket Marathon and returning this year ran 10.5km on the first day, and Marathon the day after. While Hiroki was out sprinted to finish fourth overall in the Men’s division, Tomomi went on to win the Women’s distance for the second time ahead of Amy Mumford (GBR) and April Rose Diaz (PHI).

The Men’s Marathon was won by another Japanese runner, Takashi Mino.

Top athletes from Thailand included Thai national team runner Supit Chantharat who finished third in the 10.5km and sixth in the Men’s Marathon; former national team runner Natthaya Thanaronnawat, who finished second in both the Women’s Half Marathon and 5km; and Thai triathlete Jaray Jearani who finished seventh in the 10.5km Men’s race. Meanwhile Thai youngsters dominated the 2km Kids Run claiming all three top spots in the girls division and second and third places in the boys division.

A notable performance from Australian Hayley Newman saw her win the 5km Women’s race for the third consecutive time.

Famed for it’s beautiful course around Laguna Phuket and the island’s northern beaches, organisers strived to reduce single-use plastics on the course this year.

Top three winners in each distance:

Marathon

Male

Takashi Mino (JPN), 02:35:02

Bryan Quiamco (PHI), 02:40:15

Azlan Pagay (PHI), 02:41:20

Female

Tomomi Nakajima (JPN), 03:03:55

Amy Mumford (GBR), 03:10:10

April Rose Diaz (PHI), 03:24:57

Marathon Relay

Team 2 (THA), 03:25:27

Team Krating Peaw Relay Run (THA), 03:49:01

Team Cookie Run (THA), 03:54:08

Half Marathon

Male

Richard Salano (PHI), 01:13:25

Prince Joey Lee (PHI), 01:14:00

Daisuke Yamauchi (JPN), 01:16:59

Female

Christine Hallasgo (PHI), 01:25:28

Natthaya Thanaronnawat (THA), 01:29:00

Christabel Martes (PHI), 01:29:51

10.5km

Male

Hiroki Nakajima (JPN), 00:34:48

Hisashi Kitamura (JPN), 00:36:41

Supit Chantharat (THA), 00:37:06

Female

Dimity-Lee Duke (AUS), 00:41:30

Tomomi Nakajima (JPN), 00:41:54

Sawa Aoki (JPN), 00:45:12

5km

Male

Mohamed Rasheed (MDV), 00:16:43

Oliver Trott (GBR), 00:16:49

Jay Lilley (GBR), 00:17:00

Female

Hayley Newman (AUS), 00:19:23

Natthaya Thanaronnawat (THA), 00:19:40

Florence Williams (GBR), 00:20:55

2km Kids Run

Male

Conor Walby (GBR), 00:08:16

Korawin Chaichamroonphan (THA), 00:08:22

Natawan Chantarachota (THA), 00:08:53

Female

Puttikan Kanchanakamnoed (THA), 00:08:25

Chalinda Thongphueak (THA), 00:08:40

Ramonya Panrittidam (THA), 00:09:14

Thiem downed the world number one 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 to set up a repeat of last year’s final against 11-time winner and defending champion Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic, who was second best to Thiem when it came to mastering the gloom, wind and damp of Paris, was bidding to join Rod Laver in the Grand Slam history books.

However, it’s 25-year-old Austrian fourth seed Thiem who goes on to face Nadal where he will be buoyed by having defeated the 17-time major winner four times on clay in his career.

He will also attempt to become just Austria’s second Grand Slam men’s champion after Thomas Muster won in Paris in 1995.

Thiem did it the hard way, squandering a 4-1 final set lead and two match points before he sealed his place in the final.

“It was an amazing match. It was my first five-set match at Roland Garros so it was a good one to have,” said Thiem after the four hour 13-minute match which was played over two days.

“To be in the semi-finals with the three best players of all time (Nadal beat Roger Federer in the other semi on Friday) is really amazing.”

On the challenge of facing Nadal, who has had a day more to recover, he added: “It seems that anyone who gets to the final here plays Rafa.

“He will be the favourite but I hope to just leave it all out on the court again and we will see.”

The semi-final had been controversially suspended overnight Friday with Djokovic complaining about the ‘extreme wind’ in the stadium.

When play was halted, with the top seed trailing 1-3 in the third set, there was still around two hours of daylight remaining.

However, tournament organisers defended the decision after winds of up to 80km/h were forecast throughout the evening in Paris.

– ‘Hurricane conditions’ –

“I congratulate Dominic, he played great, especially in the important moments,” said Djokovic.

“Obviously, when you’re playing in hurricane-like conditions it’s hard to play your best.”

On the resumption Saturday, Djokovic retrieved the break in the seventh game but slipped behind again in the match when Thiemconverted a fourth set point.

For his pains, the Serb picked up a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct having already been slapped with a time violation.

Djokovic broke for a 2-1 lead in the fourth set only for the Austrian to level courtesy of an outrageous net cord which flew over the stranded Serb’s head.

The top seed broke again for 3-2, held for 4-2 but the dogged Thiem would not relent and brought the set back on serve at 4-4.

However, Djokovic prevailed to send the match into a decider.

With the bulk of crowd support behind him, Thiem dug deep and stretched to a 4-1 lead in the decider as Djokovic’s error count at the net piled up.

Rain then forced the players off for just over an hour.

Djokovic rallied to break for 3-4 but handed the initiative right back, allowing Thiem to serve for the match.

The Austrian had two match points but choked as Djokovic went to 5-5.

There was one final twist as Djokovic’s 53rd unforced error on a wild forehand set up a third match point which the Austrian gobbled up with his 52nd winner.

Nadal had powered past Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 as the 33-year-old booked a 12th appearance in the championship match.

He could also move to within two of Federer on the all-time Grand Slam title winners’ list with an 18th major on Sunday.