NEW TENNIS THREAD! Happy 2016! Gearing up for the Aussie Open.

[Raahh]

Here we are again- last year has flown. Soon be Wimbledon.

Hope everyone is well- very wet here (NW).

So, Qatar has started, Rafa has won his first round in Doha after a shaky start. So that's already better than last year!
Hopman cup underway.

Here's to an exciting 2016, Olympic year, can anyone stop Djok, who is starting to look unbeatable?

I'm really hoping Rafa can have a better year, and of course there is a wee Murray on the way . (Might not be a fan of Andy, but babies are always good news).

Pappy?? WTF is pappy??

arghhh

yay!! MNHQ!

Nice easy win for Rafa this afternoon, which has cheered up my dreary afternoon.

Waves excitedly - Hooray for berluddy Crimbo & NY being over & back to the real things in life - ie

Andy to win the Aus Open!!

Hello!!Happy 2016,Magi

I am looking forward to some tennis to brighten the New year. And I promise I am going to triple check what channels I have, before I miss the first week of the Aussie open like I usually do

Hello Raahh and magi

Just signing in & marking my place. I'll be in & out of the thread as usual but I'm looking forward to a great year of tennis

it is going to be a good year. Vamos

Rafa through to the final- where he will probably meet Djok, unless Berdych has other ideas.

just over a week to Aus- it has come around so quickly.

Not as quickly as the Olympics though- that 3.5 years has gone in a blink!

(obviously still some time to Rio- but the dcs school have been doing a Road to Rio thing at school, which is making it seem very close. )

Well, Rafa had no answers for Djokovic . but I am glad he got to the final.

Not long to Melbourne now...

Not long to Australia- and the draws are out. men's draw

Nadal has pretty rubbish first round draw He has Verdasco in the first round- which could be potentially dangerous. Given the number of qualifiers, it's very unfortunate.

Murray has drawn up and coming Alexander Zverev, who is one of the newbies I really like. I doubt he will be much of a contender, but it will be a big match for him, and good experience.

I am getting excited now. It will be nice to see some sun- if only on the tv.

Poor Rafa was very circumspect when interviewed, post draw. It could definitely be a better first round opponent. The longest match every played in Aus was the one he played against Verdasco in 2009.

He did go on to win the title, then though...

Hello all Lovelies.

Not about so much atm, so much crap in RL but I do lurk and keep an eye on you all.

Dratted Aussie Open. Can't watch any unless the BBC show a Murray match.

And why all the fuss about Andy forfeiting the Slam if Kim goes into labour ? Leave the poor bloke alone !

He's not gonna win anyway....

Probably will be Novak. Sounded like he gave poor Rafa a right beating.

Hopefully Rafa IS onwards and upwards. VAMOS !

Hi! (waves frantically I thought I'd lost you all )
I hope everyone is good?
Have had the most horrific start to the year here in rl so am desperately in need of good tennis and chat to help distract me.
Here's hoping Rafa can do well but my bets on Novak.

Hi all! Mostly just marking my place.

We're having baby #3 at the end of May (there's no tennis of significance in May, right?) so I'm looking forward to a Summer of sitting watching tennis while feeding.

Hello all

Grouchy lovely news about DC3 on the way

Mama hope you're OK & that the year improves for you.

I bloody hate January & it's been rubbish for me so far too. I can't wait for some great tennis to cheer me up.

Vamos!

Match fixing at Wimbledon!

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35319202

Hi all. Grouchy, I saw that too... Can't quite believe it though... Congratulations on impending DC3.

I thought of everyone on here when i saw the match fixing story just now!
Was on last years Wimbledon thread..seems most sports are in the frame for fixing, makes me sad, but not surprised.
Not watched any of the Aussie one, havent got Sky. Is it on normal tele? Or highlights? Normally only a wimbledon fan. Not hardcore like you lot..
When is Andy's wife due? Seems shes been pregnant forever.
I bet Serena wins ..again.

Congratulations Grouchy my birthday is late May, it's when all the best people are born
Not many surprises overnight, paire in trouble this morning though and Wozniaki is out.
They are showing it on Eurosport, if you have a tablet you can get a 1 month subscription for £4.99 to see it all.

Sorry to hear you January has been crap too drama, fingers crossed things improve for us both.

Morning Everyone!

Sorry to hear rl is crap for some of you.

Congratulations, Grouchy!

I think Kim is due mid February- I'm sure Berdych will be glad she will not be around this year, to mouth obscenities at Andy's opponents .

I'm a bit about all the 'isn't he wonderful for saying he will leave the tournament to be at the birth stuff'. It's much easier when you are a multi millionaire, and pretty much your own boss, to be able to drop everything and do that. Joe Bloggs doesn't always get the choice.

As to the match fixing, well I've said all along that Wimbledon 2013 was suspect.

I have found Eurosport! Usually it takes me a week. Apparently, after threatening to leave Virgin, we have Sky Sports for 6 months. So I might get to actually 'see' some of the tournaments this spring, rather than just watch the scores!

Anyway, most overnight results look like they were pretty straighforward. I have just dropped the dc at school, and come back to see Watson is playing. Don't like the court- seems really closed in, like a squash court.

Just got back from taking the dog out (had my phone with me to check the scores)- looks like Heather could be in trouble, but she isn't giving up yet.

Tsonga is playing Baghdatis- I love Marcos, and Jo-Willy. But I think Jo will win it.

Crap start to the new year here, db died 10 days ago. BUT, I have the lovely memory of sitting with him on that Sunday afternoon watching the Davis cup final and how pleased he was when Andy won. That was one of the last times db was up and about really so it's a special memory

Looking forward to lots of lovely tennis in 2016!

Oh, Punk I'm so sorry.

It is lovely that you have that memory of him.