Liverpool are preparing for their second successive Champions League final after a run that included an incredible comeback to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit against Barcelona in the semi-final by winning 4-0 at Anfield.

It will be Klopp’s fourth European final as a manager, having been a Champions League runner-up with Borussia Dortmund in 2013, before losing the Europa League final with Liverpool in 2016.

Their run to Madrid this year has been marked by a never-say-die spirit, with Klopp suggesting that his team of 2019 is better than those that have lost his three previous European finals.

“I don’t like to blame my other teams (for the European final defeats),” said Klopp, whose side lost out to Real Madrid in the final last year.

“I love them all. They all gave everything but I have never been part of a final with a better team than this.

“I am not so surprised by this because our boys mix our potential with attitude in the best way I have witnessed. That is brilliant.”

However Klopp, speaking at Liverpool’s training ground Tuesday, made clear that he has yet to surpass his first major achievement as a manager, leading minnows Mainz into the Bundesliga for the first time in their history 15 years ago, on a minimal budget.

– Career highlight? –

Asked if Saturday’s final marked the pinnacle of his career, the manager, whose side finished a single point behind champions Manchester City in the Premier League, said: “If I win it, yes. It would be different to the last finals.

“Is bringing the team to the Champions League final (in itself) the biggest moment in my career? No, that was 2004, getting promoted with Mainz. If you had known the money we had, the circumstances we had… and the fact was that nobody needed us in the first league.

“If I win the Champions League, though, I will have to think about this question again.”

Klopp is hopeful that forward Roberto Firmino will be fit to play a part in Saturday’s final, having missed the final three matches of the season with a muscle issue.

Midfielder Naby Keita, however, will not recover from his adductor injury in time to face Tottenham.

“No chance for Naby,” Klopp said. “Naby is really progressing well. We will see how it will work out for him for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Bobby was part of training last week, really good, everything looked fine. He will be fine, I am pretty sure.”

Klopp expects a close contest against a Tottenham side that Liverpool beat home and away in the Premier League during the season, winning 2-1 on both occasions.

He said: “It will be very tight. The quality of Tottenham and us is pretty similar. The distance between us is consistency.

“Emotions will be completely different. You have to use the emotions but in the right circumstances. Bringing ourselves in the right mood is the job we have to do.

“We know about Tottenham a lot but after three weeks (without a game to prepare), I would have known the name of the groundsman of Barcelona if they had been the opponent.

“We know it is difficult, Tottenham know it is difficult, so let’s play a difficult game and let’s win it.”

They also won the awards for the top scorer, best player and best goalkeeper.

The team beat Ireland 25-5 in the quarterfinal then made it through to the semi-final with their win against South Africa. They then beat Switzerland in the final.

On May 24, Thai Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ureerat​ Chareontoh assigned minister counsellor Nattanipa Burusapat to visit the team at the Stadium Luzanky to extend congratulations and the embassy’s support for the team.

The 37-year-old Williams, who is attempting to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, racked up her 800th career main draw win with her 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory in front of a half-full Court Philippe Chatrier.

Nadal started his bid for a record-extending 12th men’s Roland Garros title with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 win over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, before world number one Djokovic saw off Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets.

This was only Williams’ fifth match since collapsing to defeat late on against Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year, but she showed excellent form in the second and third sets in Paris.

“I just got nervous out there and I stopped moving my feet. And I was, like… ‘You gotta do something’,” said the 10th seed, who has not won a major title since the 2017 Australian Open.

“But compared to other matches, I’m always a little nervous in Grand Slams, especially in the first round.”

The three-time French Open winner, who took to the court wearing a black and white cape adorned with the words ‘mother, champion, queen, goddess’, started poorly, and was punished as Diatchenko broke to love in the fifth game en route to the first set.

But having made 14 unforced errors in the opener, Williams made just 10 more in the rest of the match as she overpowered her opponent, dropping only one game in the process.

– Nadal cruises into round two –

Nadal, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, set up a clash with another German qualifier — world number 114 Yannick Maden — in round two.

Nadal had suffered three consecutive semi-final defeats earlier in the clay-court season, but appeared to find his best in an Italian Open title success sealed with victory over old rival Djokovic, while his French Open win-loss record now reads 87-2.

“It’s always amazing to play here… It’s been an important place in my career,” the second seed said.

“I played a good tournament in Rome which was very important for my confidence. Now we’ll see.”

The 32-year-old Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set before a second break of serve in the eighth game sealed it after just 40 minutes.

The second set was over in a flash as Nadal crushed nine winners past the beleaguered Hanfmann.

The winning line honed into view when Nadal broke after a lengthy game to take a 2-1 advantage in the third, and the Spaniard completed the job on his first match point as world number 184 Hanfmann blasted long.

– Djokovic impresses –

Djokovic laid down an early marker in his bid to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously for the second time, powering past Polish youngster Hubert Hurkacz.

The 15-time major champion impressed in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 triumph and will face Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen in round two.

“I put myself in a situation where I can actually make history of tennis again and obviously I have very high ambitions for this tournament,” said the top seed.

Twelve months ago, Djokovic dropped out of the world’s top 20 after a shock quarter-final loss to Marco Cecchinato and even pondered skipping Wimbledon, but he has instead reclaimed his place at the top of the game.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki collapsed to a 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to Russian world number 68 Veronika Kudermetova in the first round.

“I think she got very lucky at the start of the second set and took advantage of the opportunities she got,” said Wozniacki.

Sixth seed and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was forced to pull out before her scheduled opener against Sorana Cirstea with a left arm injury, but said she should be fit for Wimbledon, which starts on July 1.

Dutch fourth seed Kiki Bertens looked in fine fettle, though, beating home player Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 6-4.

In the men’s event, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka progressed with a 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3 win over Slovakian Jozef Kovalik.

Last year’s runner-up and fourth seed Dominic Thiem recovered from 4-0 down in a third-set tie-break against American Tommy Paul to win 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in the twilight gloom.

Atthaya Thitikul with the 2017 trophy.

Teen sensation Atthaya Thitikul, then just 14, won the inaugural LET in 2017 followed by Kanyalak Preedasuttijit last year.

As Thai players appeared to have the edge over foreign contenders at the coastal town, LET chief Litchtenhein admits it’s possible that Thailand will complete a hat-trick.

“Thai players have won the past two editions and the trophy may fall into the hands of a local player again this year,” Lichtenhein said.

“It’s a great achievement for us to see this tournament continue to grow every year. We have contributed our support in every aspect to make Thai golf and golfers raise their standards to a higher level.”

The tournament, which takes place from June 20-23, is co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Thai Ladies Professional Golf Association (Thai LPGA) and offers a total prize money of 300,000 Euros (Bt11 million).

It will be competed in a 72-hole stroke play format for four days, with the top 60 players, making the halfway cut.

The LET Thailand Championship feature a total of 126 players, 70 from the LET rankings and 40 from the Thai LPGA rankings plus 16 through sponsor invites.

The winner of this tournament will automatically earn a card to compete on the Ladies European Tour and a berth into the Women’s British Open which will take place beuween August 1 – 4 at Milton Keynes in the UK.

For further information, visit https://m.facebook.com/LadiesEuropeanThailandChampionship

Federer, a 20-time major winner, hadn’t played the tournament since 2015 when he reached the quarter-finals.

However, on Sunday, it was as if the 37-year-old had never been away as he swept to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour 41 minutes on a packed, rebuilt Court Philippe Chatrier.

It was his 60th successive first round win at a Grand Slam.

“I felt on edge at the start, my heart was beating crazily,” said Federer, who hailed the new-look stadium which has been 90% rebuilt in readiness for the installation of a retractable roof for 2020.

“I felt great playing on this court. It looks very attractive, so congratulations to everyone involved.

“Hopefully I can play here again for my next match.”

That match will be against German lucky loser Oscar Otte who won just his second match in eight years on the tour by seeing off Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.

“I would be surprised if Roger knew my name,” said Otte, the world number 145.

Federer broke serve five times and fired 36 winners past 24-year-old Sonego, the world number 73 who made the quarter-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters.

German fifth seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Kerber saw her hopes of a career Grand Slam ended by Russian teenager Anastasia Potapova.

Kerber slumped to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat to 18-year-old Potapova who was making her French Open debut.

“Kerber is actually one of my idols, and when I was young I was looking for her game,” said the 81st-ranked Russian who hit 28 winners past her German opponent.

Kerber, 31, has now lost six times in the French Open first round.

The German left-hander had come into Roland Garros carrying a right ankle injury which forced her to pull out of the Italian Open and retire from her second round tie in Madrid.

“I didn’t have many expectations coming in,” said Kerber, who was broken six times in the match which brought the curtain up on the newlook Chatrier arena.

Potapova’s first win over a top 10 player gives her a second round clash against 19-year-old Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic.

Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who stunned Federer on his way to the Australian Open semi-finals and beat 11-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal in Madrid, also made the second round.

The 20-year-old sixth seed brushed aside Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).

– New court unveiled –

The new Court Simonne Mathieu, a 5,000-capacity semi-sunken arena enclosed by greenhouses, was officially unveiled on Sunday.

It forms part of the 350 million euro upgrade of the entire site which will also see the demolition of the Court 1 ‘bullring’ after the 2018 tournament.

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, the 2016 champion, had the honour of opening proceedings against America’s Taylor Townsend and the 19th seed marked the occasion with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win.

“It’s cute,” said the Spaniard. “It’s not small, but it’s, you know, cosy.”

Other winners on the first day included Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori, a quarter-finalist in 2015, who eased past France’s Quentin Halys 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

However, Italian 16th seed Marco Cecchinato, the man who sent Novak Djokovic crashing out in the quarter-finals in 2018, fell at the first hurdle.

Cecchinato lost to 37-year-old Frenchman Nicolas Mahut — who has slipped to 253 in the world — 2-6, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Canada teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew from the tournament with a thigh injury, just a day after finishing runner-up to Benoit Paire in Lyon.

The 18-year-old was seeded 25 and had been due to face Australia’s Jordan Thompson but his place has been taken by Spanish lucky loser Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Second seed Karolina Pliskova closed play on Chatrier with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Madison Brengle of the United States.

Ninth seed Elina Svitolina saw off 38-year-old Venus Williams 6-3, 6-3.

Law got off to a hot start with four birdies on the front nine then delivered the knockout blow with another birdie on 16 to win the Pure Silk tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, by two strokes on Sunday.

“This was the biggest fight of my life,” said Law, who closed with a final round of four-under 67 for her wire-to-wire win.

Law finished with a 17-under 267 total as she held off a hard-charging field that included Madelene Sagstrom, Brooke Henderson and Nasa Hataoka. The trio tied for second at 15-under on the Kingsmill Resort course.

The 24-year-old Law, who is in her third season on the Tour, said this is just the start of her first place trophy collection.

“I came in this week with the sole intention of getting one better. It feels really good,” she said.

Law got some breaks on Sunday — including one where Sweden’s Sagstrom almost holed out on 18 with an eagle but the ball hit the pin and cup and rolled back 20 feet.

But Law said hard work, not luck, got her to where she is.

“I don’t believe in destiny. I believe in hard work and determination. I stayed so focused out there and my caddie did good job of keeping me calm,” she said.

Sagstrom shot 66, Henderson 68 and Hataoka 69.

World No. 1 Ko Jin-Young of South Korea shot 68 and finished tied with four players at eight under.

Defending champion and world No. 4 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, shot a disappointing 72 and finished tied for 43rd at four under.

Ariya will be defending again next week at the US Women’s Open at Charleston, South Carolina.

Ronaldo was left out alongside a host of other starters as the Allegri era ended with the whimper of a 2-0 defeat at Sampdoria, having played 31 of 38 matches and closing the season as the team’s top scorer with 21 league goals.

But helping the team to another Serie A title was not why the 34-year-old was signed last summer.

Ronaldo had spent nine glittering seasons at Real Madrid, lifting a fourth Champions League trophy in five seasons before moving to Italy.

His arrival in Turin on a 100-million-euro ($115 million) deal, plus a reported 30 million euros a year, was hailed as “the deal of the century” by the Italian press.

But after a season in which they were expected to sweep all before them Juventus have won less than the previous season, with their four-year reign as Coppa Italia holders ended in a 3-0 quarter-final defeat by Atalanta.

Ronaldo single handedly lifted Juventus into the Champions League quarter-finals with a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid.

But his hopes of a fourth straight European triumph were ended when they crashed out to daring Dutch Ajax in the last eight.

Amid criticism of Allegri’s tactics, Ronaldo, who has scored 124 goals in 160 Champions League appearances, reportedly said: “I don’t work miracles”.

“Cristiano showed us he could always score in the games that counted. But then you have to have a strong team behind him,” said veteran defender Andrea Barzagli.

– Money-spinner –

Despite the financial fallout of failing to advance in the Champions League, Ronaldo’s signing has been a money-spinning one for Juventus.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the most followed sports star on social media with a global reach of over 340 million followers.

More fans ultimately means more money, and suddenly Ronaldo’s transfer fee does not look so extortionate.

The club’s value on the Milan stock exchange has rocketed by 133 percent since his arrival last July.

Shares had been trading around 0.6 euro in mid-May, jumping to 1.8 euro during the session on September 20, before dipping slightly following rape allegations against Ronaldo in the United States dating back to 2009 which he vehemently denies.

Shares jumped by 30 per cent after his hat-trick catapulted the Italian football club into the quarter finals of the Champions League in March.

Next season there will be a new coach on the bench with reports that Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, former coach of Napoli, Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino and Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi are among the candidates.

On the pitch Welsh international midfielder Aaron Ramsey arrives in Turin from Arsenal.

Age is just a number for the Thai veteran, who yesterday won her third US$25,000 ITF title with an impressive victory over 2018 Asian Games mixed doubles gold medallist Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia 6-3 6-2 in the Singapore ITF Women’s 25K final.

Despite being the oldest Thai female player on the circuit, Nudnida is among the most productive with four wins since November.

“I never pay attention to how old I am,” said the former world No 195, now 643. “Sometimes I train so hard that people suggest that I shouldn’t be so tough on myself as I’m not young anymore,” added the player from Sukhothai, the first Thai to celebrate a singles ITF victory this season.

“In modern tennis, you have to be physically tough to keep up with the young players. That’s why I work hard and still enjoy the on-court routine,” said Nudnida, known as “June” to her friends.

After cracking the top 200 in 2013, Nudnida’s career looked in trouble when she was sidelined for eight months by an ankle injury in 2016. But at 29, she had no plans to call it quits and settle down to start a family.

“Now there are several players who still play great tennis at 30. Some retired but then returned to the ATP or WTA circuits and have had good results. So [age] numbers are not a problem here,” the 13-time ITF singles winner said.

Commitment, self-discipline and determination are what keeps Nudnida competitive in an era when Thai tennis lacks potential star to follow in the footsteps of Paradorn Srichaphan and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

She admits that the pressure to perform has eased as she’s grown older, but she’s focused more on her training plan – which has yielded results.

“When I was younger, I expected to climb up the rankings higher and higher and ended up feeling tremendous pressure. Right now I just love to work on the court and enjoy the competition. That keeps my motor running,” she added.

Retirement is still not in Nudnida’s plans. She wouldn’t hesitate to answer a call from the national team and still believes she has a bright future ahead. Watch this space.