Rafael Nadal of Spain

But Swiss star Roger Federer and women’s world number one Naomi Osaka both pulled out injured from the last warm-up tournament before the French Open starting in just over a week.

Djokovic saved match points in the second set tie-break before winning through 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, sealing victory with an ace on his first match point after a three-hour battle.

“I had luck in the decisive moments in the second set tiebreak,” said the 31-year-old.

“Towards the end of the first set he just started hitting the ball really well from both corners.

“Also backhand side, backhand down the line. He was playing really well. Gave me a lot of trouble. But I never lost faith,” the four-time Rome winner said.

“I’m just really pleased to overcome.”

Del Potro had pulled out of Indian Wells and Miami with a knee injury, but matched Madrid Open winner Nadal shot for shot, wrapping up the first set 6-4 in just over an hour.

The world number nine received treatment on a bloodied big toe after Djokovic levelled one-set all.

But he kept up the pressure with Djokovic again needing to save three break points on his serve in the fourth game of the final set before breaking for 3-2 as the momentum swung his way.

The 15-time Grand Slam winner next plays Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who eliminated Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2.

– Nadal, Tsitsipas rematch –

Eight-time Rome champion Nadal eased through 6-4, 6-0 against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco to set up a rematch with Greek rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the final.

Tsitsipas advanced after Federer — returning to clay after a two-year absence — retired with a right leg injury before their game.

For 32-year-old Nadal it is his fourth straight semi-final on clay this season, but he has not managed to go further before his bid for a 12th French Open title at Roland Garros.

Tsitsipas stunned Nadal in last week’s Madrid Open semi-finals before falling to Djokovic, but lost to the Spaniard in the Australian Open semis earlier this year.

“After a lot of years here, I know what happened last week, and I’m going to try to do it better tomorrow,” said 17-time Grand Slam winner Nadal.

Reigning US and Australian Open champion Osaka withdrew with a stiff right hand giving Madrid Open winner Kiki Bertens a ticket to the semi-final.

“I woke up this morning and I couldn’t really move my thumb,” the 21-year-old said.

“I’m not mad, but between sad and disappointed,” added Osaka, who still hopes to compete at Roland Garros.

Sixth seed Bertens now goes through to meet Britain’s Johanna Konta, who battled past Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

– Raging Pliskova returns –

Federer, a quarter-finalist in Madrid, was playing in the Italian capital to prepare for his return to the French Open for the first time since 2015.

“I am not 100 percent physically and after consultation with my team, it was determined that I not play,” he said.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion had been on court for nearly four hours on Thursday, saving two match points to win through in three sets against Borna Coric after earlier easing to a straight sets win over Portugal’s Joao Sousa.

The former world number one had been a late addition to the Rome tournament as he sought clay-court practice ahead of his bid to add to his lone French Open title from 2009.

In a battle between former women’s world number ones, Karolina Pliskova won through against Victoria Azarenka 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-2.

The Czech fourth seed next plays Maria Sakkari of Greece who also needed three sets to get past France’s Kristina Mladenovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Pliskova and Sakkari last met in the second round at the Foro Italico when the Czech, furious at a line call, smashed a hole in the umpire’s chair after losing in three sets.

Third-ranked Koepka, a runaway favorite to capture his fourth major title on Sunday, fired a five-under par 65 Friday at Bethpage Black to stand on 12-under 128.

The largest prior 36-hole PGA lead had been Zimbabwean Nick Price’s five-shot edge in 1994, but Koepka was disappointed in two bogeys that cost him an even bigger stranglehold.

“Today was a battle. I was fighting,” Koepka said. “I feel good, especially the way I battled today. I fought hard. I feel great. Just need to continue on the weekend.”

The lowest prior halfway score in major golf history was 130, managed five times, including by American Gary Woodland at last year’s PGA.

Koepka, who set the course record with a 63 on Thursday, birdied three of the first four holes and four of the last six Friday to complete the most overpowering start even seen in major golf.

“I’m still putting very well,” he said. “I’m still hitting my lines and reading my putts very well.”

Woods struggled in his first event since ending an 11-year major win drought by capturing last month’s Masters for his 15th major title.

“Just didn’t quite have it,” Woods said after firing a 73 to stand on 145, one over the cut line. “Did a lot of little things wrong.

“There’s no reason I can’t get up to speed and start cranking it back up again. I’ve got to start feeling better first.”

American Jordan Spieth, trying to win to complete a career Grand Slam, and Australia’s Adam Scott shared second on 135.

Spieth, who hasn’t had a top-20 finish all year and hasn’t won since the 2017 British Open, shot 66 while Scott fired a 64, a bogey at the par-3 17th costing him a share of the course record.

Matt Wallace, trying to become the first Englishman to win the PGA since Jim Barnes in 1919, shared fourth on 136 with Americans Kelly Kraft, Luke List, Daniel Berger and Dustin Johnson. Second-ranked Justin Rose of England was ninth on 137.

World number one Johnson is in danger of losing the top spot to Koepka, a 29-year-old American who could become the first golfer to own back-to-back titles at two majors at the same time.

Koepka goes for a third consecutive US Open title next month at Pebble Beach.

Scott flirted with the all-time major low round of 62 set by South African Branden Grace at the 2017 British Open, but lipped out a short par putt at 17.

“I played fairly solid. It was nice to keep momentum going,” Scott said. “It was nice to post a number but it looks like I’ll have to post two more pretty good numbers at this stage.”

– Spieth stays confident –

Spieth has developed faith in his swing after months of uncetainty.

“Confidence has been there,” Spieth said. “I figured if I stayed out of my own way, stick to one thought, (my game) was in good enough shape to contend.”

Spieth could become only the sixth golfer to win each of the four majors at least once, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan.

“I haven’t been in contention since the (British) Open last year,” Spieth said. “If I put in some good work tomorrow I’ll be in contention on Sunday.”

But he isn’t counting on Koepka backing up.

“You don’t expect Brooks to fall at all,” Spieth said. “I felt like I had to be within six or seven going into the weekend.”

Johnson, whose only major title came at the 2016 US Open, reeled off five birdies in seven holes in one stretch.

“I’m pleased with the score and pleased with how I played,” said Johnson. “I’m going to need to play the next two days the way I’ve played the first two days.”

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was one inside the cut line on 143, among 82 to reach the weekend.

Those missing the cut besides Woods included Spain’s Jon Rahm on 145 and cart-aided John Daly, who went 75-76.

Scores after Friday’s second round of the 101st PGA Championship at par-70 Bethpage Black:

128 – Brooks Koepka (USA) 63-65

135 – Jordan Spieth (USA) 69-66, Adam Scott (AUS) 71-64

136 – Daniel Berger (USA) 70-66, Dustin Johnson (USA) 69-67, Kelly Kraft (USA) 71-65, Matt Wallace (ENG) 69-67, Luke List (USA) 68-68

137 – Justin Rose (ENG) 70-67

138 – Danny Lee (NZL) 64-74, Kang Sung (KOR) 68-70, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 70-68, Harold Varner (USA) 71-67, Erik Van Rooyen (RSA) 70-68, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 67-71, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 70-68, Rickie Fowler (USA) 69-69, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-68

139 – Patrick Cantlay (USA) 69-70, Bronson Burgoon (USA) 73-66, Scott Piercy (USA) 72-67, Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 68-71, Chez Reavie (USA) 68-71, Xander Schauffele (USA) 70-69, Charles Howell (USA) 72-67

140 – Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) 75-65, Gary Woodland (USA) 70-70, Keegan Bradley (USA) 70-70, Zach Johnson (USA) 71-69, Phil Mickelson (USA) 69-71, Matt Kuchar (USA) 70-70, Jimmy Walker (USA) 70-70, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 71-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 72-68, Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN) 71-69

141 – Ross Fisher (ENG) 74-67, Lucas Glover (USA) 72-69, Paul Casey (ENG) 70-71, Danny Willett (ENG) 71-70, Webb Simpson (USA) 72-69, Pat Perez (USA) 68-73, Beau Hossler (USA) 72-69, Brandt Snedeker (USA) 74-67, Max Homa (USA) 70-71, Aaron Wise (USA) 70-71, Marty Jertson (USA) 72-69

142 – Joel Dahmen (USA) 70-72, Billy Horschel (USA) 70-72, Kurt Kitayama (USA) 74-68, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 72-70, Sam Burns (USA) 70-72, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 74-68, Charley Hoffman (USA) 73-69, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 70-72, Alex Noren (SWE) 73-69, Li Haotong (CHN) 73-69

143 – Jason Kokrak (USA) 73-70, Tony Finau (USA) 70-73, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 73-70, Cameron Champ (USA) 72-71, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 76-67, Kevin Tway (USA) 73-70, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 72-71, Jason Day (AUS) 69-74, Cameron Smith (AUS) 73-70, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 73-70, Adam Long (USA) 73-70

144 – Ryan Vermeer (USA) 70-74, Rich Beem (USA) 75-69, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 75-69, Corey Conners (CAN) 72-72, J.J. Spaun (USA) 72-72, Rob Labritz (USA) 75-69, Thomas Pieters (BEL) 74-70, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 76-68, Andrew Putnam (USA) 74-70, David Lipsky (USA) 70-74, Justin Harding (RSA) 74-70, Shane Lowry (IRL) 75-69, J.T. Poston (USA) 77-67, Lucas Herbert (AUS) 74-70, Joost Luiten (NED) 72-72

The squad of eight men and eight women flew out on Friday for the week-long event in Nanning – they are spearheaded by world No 7 Ratchanok Intanon and the fourth-ranked mixed doubles pairing of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

They will compete in the same group as Russia and 2015 runners-up Japan.

The initial stages see 12 teams competing in four groups of three, the top two in each progressing to the quarter-finals.

While Japan, especially the women who won the Uber Cup in Thailand last year, will be a hard nut to crack, Thailand hope to beat Russia in order to reach the last eight as group runners-up.

Khun Ying Patama Leeswadtrakul

“Our goal is to reach the knockout stage,” said Thai badminton chief Khun Ying Patama Leeswadtrakul.

“The team have trained hard at the SCG Badminton Academy and are ready to take up this challenge.”

Thailand open against Russia on May 21 and face the tougher task against Japan the following day.

Patama is hoping that if they do make it through they will get a kind quarter-final draw, which will be drawn immediately after the matches have finished on May 22.

“If we are drawn to face a team that isn’t too tough, we may go even further in the tournament,” she said.

Thailand’s best perfpormances in the Cup have been two runs to the semi-finals, in 2013 and 2015.

China have won the most titles (10)  while defending champion South Korea won four times, in 1991, 1993, 2003 and 2017.

Men’s team: Kantaphon Wangcharoen, Khosit Phetpradab, Sitthikom Thammasin, Dechapol Puavaranukroh, Kittinupong Kerden, Tinn Isriyanet, Kittisak Namdash and Nipitphon Puangphupet

Women’s team: Ratchanok Intanon, Pornpawee Chochuwong, Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Sapsiree Taerattanachai, Jongkolphan Kititharakul, Rawinda Prajongjai, Puttita Supajirakul, and Savitree Amitrapai.

The event, now in its eighth year, aims to prepare and develop under-12 players, the primary stage of Thai football, to pursue a career in football. Youngsters who take part in the programme will be trained with proper basic skills under the instruction of professional coaches.

The clinic will conduct training sessions in seven provinces all over the country and then choose 210 boys – 30 boys from each stop – to take part in further coaching.

Only 60 will then be picked for the final round, at which further training will be conducted at Bangkokthonburi University in July. Each finalist will receive a certificate from the Football Association of Thailand.

A squad of 24 players will travel to Osaka later this year to represent Thailand in the World Challenge. Thailand have won the event for the last three years, when it was still called the Toyota International Junior Cup and held in Nagoya, Japan.

Last year the local boys won all their seven games in the three-day competition held at the Toyota Sports Centre in September.

The seven clinics will be held on May 18 in Sukhothai, May 25 in Prachuab Khirakhan, June 1 in Suphanburi, June 9 in Buriram, June 15 in Krabi, June 22 in Chon Buri and June 29 in Chiang Rai, with the round on July 6 in Bangkok

For further information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ToyotaFootball or phone 080-406-1471.

The 24-year-old Kyrgios, always not far from controversy, had made headlines earlier in the day after criticising rivals including top stars Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

“Very eventful day to say to the least. Emotions got the better of me and I just wanted to say that the atmosphere was crazy out there today, just super unfortunate that it had to end in a default,” Kyrgios later wrote on Instagram.

“Sorry Roma, see you again, maybe,” he added before his troubles worsened when he was fined 20,000 euros and made to forfeit his tourmament prize money and ranking points.

His astonishing outburst came in his second round tie against 76th-ranked qualifier Ruud who had won the first set 6-3.

Kyrgios won the second set 7-6 (7/5) to level, but was furious after sending a forehand wide to hand a break back to Ruud early in the third set.

The 24-year-old turned and berated the crowd for walking during the point before slamming his racquet to the floor amid a string of swear words.

Kyrgios told a spectator: “You’re not supposed to walk across the court as I’m serving, do you understand that?”

Kyrgios then received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and a game penalty, with the umpire calling the tournament referee courtside.

“I’m giving 100 percent. I don’t want to play when this shit is going on,” Kyrgios was heard saying.

He then kicked a water bottle, before throwing a chair across court, packing his bag, shouting “I am fucking done”.

The Australian later posted “Hahahahaha” on Twitter along with crying with laughter emojis alongside a clip of Ruud celebrating going through 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 2-1 to the third round.

“I think he got what he deserved,” said Ruud of Kyrgios.

The Norwegian, who went on to lose to former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, said he thought the ATP should take action.

“He thinks he can do what he likes.”

“He was angry from the start, at that point in the third, I thought ‘this has to be it’ you can’t go on like that and go on playing’.

“He was getting more and more angry. There’s been a lot of talk about it with other players.

“I think there should be some hard punishment, there’s been some other stuff as well. He should be suspended for at least six months.”

But Swiss star Roger Federer — who Kyrgios has termed “the greatest player of all time” — did not agree.

“I don’t think he should be suspended personally,” said the 20-time Grand Slam winner.

“He walked off the court. What did he do? He hurt a chair? I mean, that’s not enough for me.

“I don’t know if he’s on probation or not from his Shanghai (walked off court in 2017) thing or not.

“If that’s the case, then obviously you can maybe look into it. If that’s run its course, I don’t think he should be suspended.

“A zero pointer, fine, all this stuff is already tough enough. He knows it’s a mistake what happened.”

World number one Djokovic, however, would not comment, stating: “I’ll let others, officials, decide that. I have no opinion.”

– ‘Bad loser’ –

Kyrgios had earlier whipped up a storm over comments made about Djokovic and Nadal in an interview with NCR Tennis Podcast.

“I just feel like he’s got a sick obsession with wanting to be liked,” he said of world number one Djokovic.

“He just wants to be (Roger) Federer. I feel he wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him. This celebration thing is so cringeworthy.

“No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest to me.

“For me, Federer will always be the greatest of all time.”

He also said Nadal, who had lambasted the Australian as “disrespectful” after losing to him in Mexico earlier this year, was a bad loser.

“He’s just my polar opposite, like literally my polar opposite. And he’s super salty,” said Kyrgios.

Kyrgios has a long and chequered history when it comes to discipline.

In 2015, in one of his more notorious outbursts, he was fined for making a sexually disparaging remark in Canada about the girlfriend of three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.

The following year, he was banned for eight weeks after being accused of not trying at the Shanghai Masters.

The 16-year-old former Ladies European Thailand Championship winner shot the final round 67 for a total 14 under-par 202 to beat Phannarai Meesom-us who followed second on 214 at the par 72 6,248 yard course.

Overnight heavy rain made it difficult for golfers to play their game but the teen prodigy had no problem as she cruised to a convincing victory in her third appearance at the event.

“It’s quite a challenge to play under the condition but I’m happy I pulled it off,” said Atthaya who will fly to South Korea for a tournament before returning to join the LET Thailand Championship which she won in 2017.

Koepka fired a seven-under-par 63, the day’s only bogey-free round, to take a one-stroke lead over New Zealand’s Danny Lee after 18 holes while Woods, in his first start since snapping an 11-year major drought at last month’s Masters, settled for a 72 and a share of 51st.

Third-ranked Koepka closed with a 33-foot birdie putt to set a course record and match the lowest round in tournament history.

“That was one of the best rounds I’ve played probably as a professional,” said Koepka, who turned pro in 2012.

It was the second 63 in as many years at a PGA Championship for the 29-year-old American, who joined Australian Greg Norman and Fiji’s Vijay Singh as the only players to shoot so low twice in majors.

“My putter was hot today. It hasn’t felt that good in a long time,” Koepka said. “This was a crazy day, seven-under, it’s not going to happen every day.”

Lee closed with back-to-back birdies to shoot 64, added distance with his driver the key to his low round of 2019 and in 10 career major starts.

“I’m definitely hitting it further,” he said. “That’s a huge bonus for me. I’m interested myself in what I can do out there this week.”

Tommy Fleetwood, trying to become the first Englishman to win the PGA since Jim Barnes in 1919, shot 67 to stand a distant third, one stroke ahead of France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera, South Korean Kang Sung and Americans Chez Reavie, Luke List and Pat Perez.

A pack of eight on 69 included major winners Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and top-ranked Dustin Johnson. Spieth would complete a career Grand Slam with a win while Johnson’s top ranking is vulnerable if he doesn’t claim the Wanamaker Trophy.

Both Koepka and playing partner Woods said his round could have been better, perhaps below the record 62 fired by South Africa’s Branden Grace in the 2017 British Open.

“I parred both par-5s and missed a couple of eight-footers for birdie,” Koepka said. “It could have been a hell of a round.”

Koepka, who began on the back nine, holed a 40-foot birdie putt at 10 and sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 14th.

He charged with four birdies in six holes before sinking a 10-footer to save par at the sixth ahead of his closing heroics.

“He played well,” Woods said. “That was probably the highest score he could have shot out there. He left a few out there. He could easily have been a couple better.

“I wasn’t as close as I would have liked to have been for sure.”

Only two of eight prior players who fired major-opening 63s won titles, Jack Nicklaus at the 1980 US Open and Ray Floyd at the 1982 PGA.

Koepka, who seeks a third consecutive US Open win next month, could become the first player to hold back-to-back titles at two majors, but no player has ever repeated as a US Open and PGA champion.

– Nightmare for Tiger –

Sixth-ranked Woods, coming off his stunning 15th major victory in last month’s Masters, endured a nightmare day in his first competitive round since capturing his 15th career major title 33 days ago at Augusta National.

On the same course where he won the 2002 US Open, Woods opened with a double bogey at 10 after finding rough, laying up and blasting over the green. He answered with a birdie at 15 but double-bogeyed the par-3 17th after finding sand off the tee.

“The golf course is playing tough,” Woods said. “It’s not that hard to make bogeys out there but it’s hard to make birdies.”

Woods fought back with birdies at the first and second holes, then curled in a 30-foot eagle putt to make the crowd roar.

But par misses from inside 10 feet at the fifth, seventh and the par-3 eighth doomed his fightback.

“Fought my way back and got it under par for the day,” Woods said. “Let it slip with a couple of mistakes and a couple of bad putts at the end.”

Joining Woods on 72 was Rory McIlroy, whose lone birdie came on the 18th hole.

– Daly carts around PGA –

It was the first PGA Championship played in May since 1949, moving from August this year in a revamp of the global golf schedule.

American John Daly, hampered by right knee arthritis, used a cart after an appeal under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He’s the first player to use a cart in a major since Casey Martin at the 2012 US Open.

It only helped so much. Daly shot 75.

However, Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios was disqualified after a foul-mouthed rant during his third-round match against Norway’s Casper Ruud which could land him with a lengthy suspension.

Federer came through 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) against 13th seed Coric after earlier beating Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3 in the second round as players doubled up after rain wiped out play on Wednesday.

Federer, a four-time finalist in Rome, trailed 0-4 before dropping the first set, coming back in the second and saving two match points in the third set tie-break.

“Definitely felt like I got a little lucky obviously,” said Federer.

“Borna had the lead. There were crucial moments throughout the match, second set and third set, for me to stay in it. Things definitely went my way tonight.”

Federer next plays Greek eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Monte Carlo Masters champion Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-3.

Tsitsipas shocked Federer in the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.

Nadal, meanwhile, dropped just two games throughout the day, dispatching Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-0 in the third round after earlier also dropping just one game against France’s Jeremy Chardy.

“I have been improving every week,” said Nadal, who next plays fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco as he targets a first title on clay this season before his French Open defence.

“It’s been a peculiar clay court season for me. I had some tough period of time. Has been little bit difficult to hold the body and the tennis level for every day.”

Djokovic, winner in Madrid last Sunday, beat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-0 after earlier easing past Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-1, 6-3.

The four-time Italian Open winner next plays Argentine seventh seed Juan Martin Del Potro for a place in the semi-finals.

“I like the fact that I didn’t play yesterday because I felt like I needed an extra maybe day of rest and recovery a little bit,” said the Serb. “So it was perfect.”

In the women’s event, Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the top seed, also won twice to retain the world number one ranking ahead of the start of the French Open.

She eased into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Mihaela Buzarnescu after earlier beating Slovak Dominika Cibulkova by the same scoreline.

Osaka was at risk of losing her world number one ranking to Simona Halep but the Romanian was knocked out by Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova losing 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Halep’s defeat also guarantees Osaka’s top seeding at the French Open.

– Swearing, chair throwing –

Kyrgios’s tournament finished early after he threw a chair across court in a tantrum, before storming off and being disqualified.

The controversial 24-year-old, who had marked his presence in Rome by criticising Djokovic and Nadal in an interview on Wednesday, started arguing with the umpire in the third set.

World number 36 Kyrgios had levelled the match at one set all but was given a game penalty early on in the third set for swearing.

His response was to kick out at a water bottle before throwing a chair onto the court, packing his bag and then storming off court, shouting ‘I am fucking done’’

Kyrgios was automatically disqualified with Ruud winning 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 2-1 to advance to the third round before losing to del Potro.

“I think he got what he deserved,” said Ruud of Kyrgios who was then fined 20,000 euros and made to forfeit his tournament winnings.

Kyrgios had already been at the centre of controversy during Wednesday’s washout when he told the NCR Tennis Podcast that Djokovic had “a sick obsession with wanting to be liked”.

Nadal was described by the Australian as “super-salty”.

Fifth seed Dominic Thiem slammed tournament organisers after he was dumped out 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 by Verdasco.

Austrian Thiem complained competitors were left hanging around during the rain-impacted day 24 hours earlier.

“I really dislike how we players get treated at this tournament because yesterday was, in my opinion, not acceptable,” said last year’s French Open runner-up.

“I’m quite pissed about it. I was tired, exhausted, today because of all these shitty things,” he added.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the sixth seed, got past American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 6-4 and then Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in three sets.

Czech second seed Petra Kvitova retired in her third round match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari while trailing 7-5, 5-7, 4-0 in the third set.

The 23-year-old Nattawat opened up a one-shot lead with his bogey-free round highlighted by six birdies and one eagle at the THB 2,000,000 (approximately US$63,860) event co-sanctioned by the All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT).

Indonesia’s Danny Masrin and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong trail a shot behind in second place following matching 63s while Tirawat Kaewsiribandit carded a 64 to take fourth place at the award-winning Laguna Golf Phuket.

Defending champion Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij of Thailand posted a 70 to lurk eight shots off the pace in tied-55th.

Nattawat, who claimed his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title in Malaysia in 2017, rode on a hot putter to navigate around the greens in only 24 putts.

“I putted really well today and made a lot of long putts. I started off well with birdies on holes two and three which gave me a lot of confidence and I made a 20-foot putt for birdie on hole 17 ,” said the Thai.

He notched birdies on holes two, three, seven and 13 before striking his five-wood to four feet on hole 14 and rolling in his putt for eagle.

“On hole 14, I hit a really great shot from the rough on the left side of the fairway. It landed four feet from the pin and I made an eagle. Overall, I am happy with my round today,” added the Thai, who grabbed two more birdies on his way home.

Starting from the 11th tee, Masrin had a slow start with eight consecutive pars before finding some momentum in the back nine to mark his card with five birdies and an eagle.

“I was scrambling on the first eight holes and couldn’t get the speed of the greens right, then I made the turn and made three straight birdies to get some momentum going.

“I started to get the feel of the greens on the back nine and made some good putts. On hole seven I hit a great shot from 210 yards to the green and then a 15-footer for eagle. It was a pretty good day and I just have to keep with the speed of the greens for the next three rounds,” said the 26-year-old Indonesian, who is chasing his maiden ADT victory this week.

The Singha Laguna Phuket Open is the Tour’s third stop in Thailand this season and is celebrating its third straight edition on the ADT this year.

Leading first round scores:

62 – Nattawat Suvajanakorn

63 – Danny Masrin , Nitithorn Thippong

64 – Tirawat Kaewsiribandit

65 – Piya Swangarunporn , Kammalas Namuangruk , Miguel Carballo , Joohyung Kim , Kosuke Hamamoto