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).

Evening all

I was hoping one of you lovelies would've heard the name for Mini Murray, but clearly not!

So Del Potro is back today? I'll keep an eye out for the result, and hope Rafa gets through in Rio too.

Oh!!! Just read Mini Murray is called Sophia Olivia, so they obviously went with very popular! Lovely names, but Kim clearly didn't go on Baby names to be told there are 6 in every class.

And Rafa and Potato both won their opening matches, so happy day.

I like that name! Pretty.

Very pretty name, I wish them well they always look very happy together.
Yay for potato, so happy he came through easily :)

Nice name

Glad to hear Rafa & Potato both won. I didn't bother checking the ATP website for the results, I knew I'd get all the news here!

Rafa through but he looked all over the place in the second set. Still a wins a win
Potato playing later tonight.

ooh, Mama, my laptop has been playing up, so I have missed the scores.

Yes, a win is a win. Just wish he would make it a bit easier for himself!
Everything crossed Potato does well too.

Oh no Raahh hope your laptop recovers soon :)
Potato safely through but things get much harder next round, chardy up for him next...
Yep Rafa does seem to enjoy making things difficult for himself at the moment, he took the first easily then went a break up in the second and then forgot how to play tennis, went 2 breaks down and had to fight his way back.
Tbh he had some lucky calls as well, can't help thinking they should have hawk eye on clay as well, the replay clearly showed a ball that was called in was out.

Well, Rafa went through when Dogsbollocks retired. That's a bit of luck

And Potato safely through to the semis too.

Jo Konta is on Jonathon Ross tonight- apparently the interview is really embarrassing. I think she needs some help with dealing with the media, it will only get worse as she gets better.

Well, last night wasn't great all round- Nadal lost to Cuevas and Potato lost to Querrey. Close matches by the look of things, but disappointing in Nadal's case. Potato probably was just glad to get a string of matches together.

Well nothing went well last night, grrrr.
By all accounts Rafa should have won, he had loads of chances but did his falling apart thing again.
Mind you he wasn't the only one berdych and dimitrov both lost matches you would have expected them to win as well yesterday.
Agree Raahh, think potato will just be pleased to have played 3/4 matches, not got injured and been able to see roughly where his form is. The one match of his I saw he played very well, think a few injury free months and he might be back up challenging the top guys again. (I've just cursed him haven't I.....)

I saw some of konta's interview-she wasn't terribly polished- kept saying 'shit' I found it endearing.

been keeping up with the goings on this week. Brilliant for Dom Thiem- second tournament in a row. And it seems the only way Djok isn't going to make it to a final is to retireEye problem and severe allergy. Bet there are a few players wanting to know what he is allergic to

Federer (as expected, by me anyway) has delayed his return after knee surgery for another month. Always said 4 weeks was optimistic. Even for RoboFed.

Davis cup on BBC2 all afternoon - what a treat to have some tennis!

I am so wiped just watching that match, I don't know how they do it.

Just caught up on today's match. What a match, andy must be exhausted!!!

BBC are saying Shrieky failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.

No way!! She failed a drugs test? Off to look it up...

And Murray was AMAZING yesterday. What guts and stamina. And well done Heather!

Now having read the news report on BBC I feel a bit sorry for her. She has been taking it since 2006 and it only became banned on 1 Jan 2016 and it is known by a different name. Must have been a shock for her

I've just read that. It was just a headline when I posted.

I wonder what she's taking it for.

OMG Shrieky!

I'm we'll all be gutted and miss her terribly if she gets a temporary suspension.

Mind you, 'The World Anti-Doping Agency sent me an e-mail about changes to the banned substances list and I forgot to click on the link' is probably the best excuse since Cilic sent his mum to the pharmacy.

Just saying hello.